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Division. \^. 

BV  2940  .B653  1879 
Bonar,  Horatius,  1808-188 
The  white  fields  of  Franc( 
or.  The  story  of  Mr. 


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THE 


WHITE  FIELDS  OF  FRANCE ; 


OR, 


THE  STORY  OF  MR.  MILL'S  MISSION  TO  THE  WORKING-MEN 
OF  PARIS  AND  LYONS. 


HORATif  S^ONAR,  D.D.  \ 

\THS0L0GI01iL 

"Look  on  the  fields  ;  for  they  are  white  already  to  harvest."— John  iv.  35. 

"I  thank  God  for  the  unspeakable  goodness  which  He  has  shown  to  so  many  of 
my  fellow-countrymen,  who  have  learned  in  your  Meetings  to  know  Jesus  Christ, 
His  Divine  Son."— Letter  from  an  Ouvrier  to  Mr.  M'All  in  1874. 


NEW    YORK: 

ROBERT    CARTER    AND    BROTHERS, 

530    BROADWAY. 

1879. 


EDTNIiURUn  : 

PRINTED  BY  LOEIMER  AND  OTLLIES, 

31  ST.  ANDREW  SQUARE. 


-^  m  r^.O'fvf 


PREFACE, 


t  WOULD  state  in  a  few  sentences  my  reasons 
for   writing,   or    rather   compiling,   this   little 
book. 

1.  I  wish  the  Churches  of  Great  Britain,  and  of 
America  also,  to  be  better  acquainted  with  the 
spiritual  condition,  past  as  well  as  present,  of  Paris 
and  of  France.  Amid  many  shadows,  there  is  in 
it  more  of  brightness  and  hopefulness  than  many 
suppose.  There  are  "  white  fields  "  gleaming  amid 
miles  of  moorland. 

2.  I  wish  to  call  their  earnest  attention  to  the  work 
now  going  on  under  Mr.  M'All  ;  a  work  which  has 
proved  its  solidity  by  a  history  of  nearly  eight  years ; 
a  work  which,  apart  from  numerous  conversions,  has 
calmed  down  the  most  unquiet  faubourgs  of  the  city."^' 

*  While  I  am  writing  this,  Paris  has  been  moved  by  the  news  of 
the  death  of  the  Prince  Imperial.  In  former  days,  an  event  like 
this  would  have  been  the  signal  for  a  Republican  illumination, 
especially  in  what  I  may  call  the  "  Mission  faubourgs."  But  all  has 
been  quiet ;  and  the  newspapers  specially  inform  us  that  attempts 
to  get  up  these  displays  in  "  Belleville  and  Montmartre  have  failed  ; 
and  the  lantern  sellers  went  home  with  their  stock  unsold." 


iv  Preface. 

3.  I  wish  to  engage  the  sympathies  of  workers 
at  home  for  their  fellow-workers  in  France,  who, 
amid  all  their  comforting  success,  have  many  diffi- 
culties to  encounter,  and  much  real  hardship  to 
undergo. 

4.  I  wish  to  plead  for  more  labourers.  It  is 
self-denying  and,  in  a  worldly  aspect,  unremunera- 
tive  toil ;  but  not  the  less  on  that  account  ought  it 
to  call  out  the  zeal  of  Christians  in  our  land, 
especially  as  it  is  the  nearest  and  most  accessible  of 
all  missionary  fields.  The  French  Pastors  have 
nobly  helped ;  but  they  have  their  own  work,  which 
fills  their  hands. 

5.  I  wish  to  claim  the  liberality  of  those  who 
can  give.  Mr.  M' All's  responsibilities  are  heavy; 
and  Christians  at  home  must  step  forward  to  relieve 
him.  The  burden,  which  he  has  been  bearing  so 
uncomplainingly,  is  becoming  too  weighty  for  the 
shoulders  of  one  man.  As  conductor  of  the  Mission, 
and  as  responsible  for  the  means  of  carrying  it  on, 
he  has  far  too  much  laid  upon  him.  His  position 
reminds  me  of  the  apostle's,  as  described  by  himself 
in  2  Cor,  xi.  28, — "  Besides  those  things  that  are 
without,  that  which  cometh  upon  me  daily,  the  care 
of  all  the  Churches;"  or,  as  the  words  might  be 
more  pointedly  rendered,  ''  Besides  these  externals, 
there  is  the  daily  concourse  of  visitors,  and  the  care 


Preface, 


of  all  the  Churches."  I  need  not  say  that  the 
"  daily  concourse  of  visitors "  in  Paris  is  a  serious 
thing. 

These  are  my  chief  reasons  for  publishing  this 
volume ;  and  I  trust  it  will  have  due  weight  with 
the  Christian  public,  calling  forth  sympathy,  liber- 
ality, and  prayer. 

I  have  confined  myself  entirely  to  Mr.  M'All's 
work,  and  even  of  this  I  have  been  obliged  to  write 
briefly.  To  know  it  aright,  strangers  must  see  and 
hear  for  themselves.  They  need  not  think  it  necessary 
to  address  a  meeting  either  in  broken  French,  or 
through  an  interpreter.  For  without  this,  they 
can  quite  appreciate  the  Mission  and  understand  its 
workings. 

The  Grange, 
Edinburgh,  June,  1879. 


After  I  had  finished  this  Preface,  I  received  a  letter 
from  M.  Saillens  regarding  the  work  at  Marseilles  of  date 
25th  June  (1879).  The  field  has  only  been  entered  on; 
hut  the  accounts  are  cheering.  "  When  we  left  Paris," 
he  writes,  "  we  hoped  and  prayed  that  our  efibrts  at 
Marseilles  might  be  crowned  with  success.  But  we  had 
no  idea  that  God  would  so  richly  answer  our  prayers. 
In  less  than  three  months  we  had  three  stations  opened, 
and  fourteen  meetings  a- week  established.     We  saw,  in 


vi  Preface. 

every  station,  the  halls  become  too  small  in  a  very  few 
weeks  \  but  now  our  statistics  are  as  follows  : — 

«;++;«n-^      Weekly         Weekly  Bible  Sewiug 

siuingt,.      A-dults.         Childi-eu.       Classes.       Meetings. 

Belle  de  Mai,    380         700  130  110  40 

Mempenti,        600       1100  275  350  35 

Endoume,         160         350 

1140        2150  405  460  75 

making  more  than  3000  per  week,  an  average  of  1000 
a-station.  We  have  not  yet  reached  the  mass  of  the 
population.  Twenty  stations  would  hardly  do  it.  There 
is  in  that  vast  city  of  350,000  inhabitants  (all  of  whom 
live  more  outside  than  at  home)  an  unlimited  sphere  of 
labour.  The  Lord  has  been  gracious  in  preparing  the 
hearts  of  the  Christian  people  here  to  receive  us  kindly 
and  to  help  us.  Money  has  been  found  up  to  our  present 
needs.  These  mercies  make  us  sure  that  He  will  not 
refuse  to  help  us  onwards  and  to  give  us  the  means  of 
extending  considerably  the  work,  which,  I  am  sure,  will 
develop  itself.  We  have  not  been  left  without  more  definite 
proofs  of  His  approval.  A  Reformed  pastor  told  me  the 
other  day  that  he  had  noticed  in  his  church  fifty  of  our 
people  from  La  Belle  de  Mai ;  seven  of  whom  he  has 
admitted  lately  to  the  Lord's  table.  At  the  Free  Church, 
also,  several  have  been  admitted.  I  have  been  set  aside 
by  sickness  and  obliged  to  take  some  rest.  But  our 
friends  have  well  filled  my  place.  May  I  ask  an  interest 
in  your  prayers  1  Our  two  Bible-women  are  overcharged 
with  work.  From  all  hands ;  from  all  cities ;  almost  from 
every  village,  there  comes  the  cry  of  the  Macedonian.  Oh 
that  we  French  Christians  may  rise  to  the  height  of  our 
calling."  H.  B. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP, 

I.    FRAGMENTS  OF  HISTORY,  NEW  AND  OLD, 

II.    RISE  OF  THE  WORK, 

III.  PROGRESS  AND  EXPANSION, 

IV.  WIDER  EXPANSION, 

V.    THE  THIRD  YEAR  AND  ITS  INCIDENTS, 

VI.    ONWARDS  AND  OUTWARDS, 

VII.    PROGRESSIVE  INGATHERING,      . 

VIII.    MISCELLANEOUS  :    PAST  AND  PRESENT  : — 
SECT. 

1.  CONTRASTS,    .... 

2.  THE  SALLE  EVANG^LIQUE, 

3.  THE  LATEST  GOOD  NEWS, 

4.  LYONS, 

5.  FRAGMENTS,  .... 

6.  THE  HYMNOLOGY,  . 

7.  EVANGELISTS  AND  THEIR  GOSPEL, 

8.  EUROPEAN  CHAOS, 


PAGE 
1 

32 
60 
79 

101 
124 
148 


191 
200 
215 
235 
267 
295 
301 
317 


APPENDIX, 


327 


THE  WHITE  FIELDS  OF  FEANCE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FEAGMENTS  OF  HISTORY,  NEW  AND  OLD. 

tHE  Italian  Government  has  thrown  a  new 
bridge  across  the  Tiber  the  other  day,  under 
the  very  eye  of  the  Pope,  but  without  asking  his 
leave.  The  like  has  not  been  done  for  a  thousand 
years  and  more.  The  Pontifex  Maximus  has  evi- 
dently lost  his  hold  of  the  old  river,  as  well  as  of  the 
old  city.  The  king  opened  the  bridge  in  March  last, 
and  no  Pope  was  there ;  nor  bishop,  nor  cardinal, 
nor  priest.  It  is  the  first  of  five  which  are  to  be 
built ;  the  Pontifex  looking  down  on  them  helplessly 
from  the  Vatican,  and  nobody  asking  how  he  looks 
or  what  he  says. 

The  French  Government  has  done  something  even 
better  and  more  daring  than  this.  It  has  authorised 
the  opening  of  twenty-three  places  of  evangelical 
service  in  Paris,  without  asking  permission  of  Pope 
or  bishop.      And   no   judgment   has  fallen  on  the 

B 


The  White  Fields  of  France. 


Republic  for  so  doing.  Religious  liberty  is  not  fully 
legalised  yet  in  France ;  but  it  makes  progress.  To 
a  large  extent  the  Word  of  the  Lord  has  free  course 
and  is  glorified.  Paris  is  certainly  listening  to  the 
Gospel;  no  man  forbidding,  and  not  a  few  rejoicing. 
The  priesthood  has  done  its  best  to  identify 
Protestantism  with  atheism  and  communism,  but 
things  are  understood  now  better  than  they  were; 
and  the  French  Government  has  at  last  learned  that 
Protestantism  is  the  friend  of  order  and  peace  and 
morality.''^  Even  the  police  of  Paris  have  had  this 
truth  forced  upon  them  by  the  events  of  the  last 
eight  years.     They    are    not  likely  to   forget   the 

*  "  I  have  several  times  heard  the  fear  expressed  that  the  hostility 
to  Roman  Catholicism  and  her  ministers,  so  manifest  among  the 
masses,  may,  after  attacking  superstition,  direct  itself  against 
Christianity  itself  and  against  vital  religion.  I  will  not  say  that, 
to  some  extent,  this  fear  is  not  justified.  Yes,  it  is  unhappily  only 
too  true,  with  many  fanatical  or  unenlightened  persons,  that  the 
hatred  which  they  have  conceived  against  Komanism,  imagining  it 
to  represent  Christianity,  has  thrown  them  into  complete  scepticism, 
and  led  them  to  cast  off  all  forms  of  religion.  It  is,  however,  a 
remarkable  fact  that  Eomish  priests,  whatever  aversion  they  have 
Inspired  towards  themselves  and  the  religion  they  profess,  have  not 
succeeded,  if  we  may  so  express  it,  in  rendering  Christ  and  His 
Gospel  unpopular,  even  among  the  class  to  which  we  have  just 
referred.  The  people  dimly  realise  that  these  priests  are  the 
unfaithful  depositaries  of  a  sacred  trust.  The  greatest  adversaries 
of  the  clergy  in  our  country  districts  quote,  rightly  or  wrongly, 
what  they  know  of  the  Gospel  (very  little,  alas  !)  in  order  to  con- 
demn their  priests  by  its  judgments.  These  same  persons  never 
mention  the  name  of  Christ  without  respect,  and  one  could  hardly 
call  them  ungodly." — M.  RiiVEiLLAUD,  in  The  Catholic  Presbyterian. 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.      3 

lesson  taught  them  by  the  quiet  of  Belleville,  since 
evangelical  truth  found  its  way  into  that  fierce 
faubourg,  and  its  poor  denizens  began  to  read  their 
Bibles  and  sing  of  the  love  of  Christ. 

Many  of  the  imprisoned  or  exiled  communists  may 
now  be  coming  back  to  their  homes,  in  consequence  of 
the  late  amnesty  granted  by  Government.  They  were 
men,  like  ourselves,  though  misguided,  and  exasperated 
to  deeds  of  violence.  Their  return  to  their  wives 
and  children  and  neighbours  is  an  event  not  to  be 
lost  sight  of;  and  they  are  doubtless  wiser  men  than 
when  they  fired  the  Tuileries  and  shot  the  priests. 
But  what  will  they  find  on  their  return  ?  Not  the 
same  Belleville  at  all.  Instead  of  the  priest,  the 
pastor ;  and  instead  of  the  inflammatory,  seditious 
placard,  the  "  conference "  bills  announcing  that 
some  English  friends  have  come  to  speak  to  them 
of  the  love  of  Christ. 

What  does  all  this  mean?  Can  they  believe 
their  own  eyes  ?  Is  this  the  faubourg  of  the  Com- 
mune ?  Are  these  the  streets,  once  smelling  with 
petroleum,  and  red  with  blood,  and  resounding  with 
the  cry  of  massacre  ?  There  is  a  change.  And  the 
people  too  are  changed.  They  are  quiet  and 
orderly.  No  revolutionary  shouts  are  heard.  It 
is  still  "  liberty,  equality,  and  fraternity  "  that  they 
speak  of;  but  it  is  not  the  same  kind  of  liberty 


The  White  Fields  of  France. 


and    equality  and    fraternity.       How    are   they  to 

understand  all  this  ?     And  what  can  have  wrought 

the   change  ?     It  cannot  be  the  Church  that  has 

done  this  ;  for  the  priests  are  not  to  be  seen,  and 

Protestant  pastors  from  England  walk  up  and  down 

the  steep  streets,  and  are  recognised  by  their  old 

comrades  as  friends. 

Here  is  a  liberated  communist  entering  his  own 

house.      Wife  and  children  are  still  there  ;   but  there 

are  strange  books  and  tracts  lying  about, — Bibles  and 

gospels  and  hymnals.      He  sits  down.      The  children 

gather  round  him  and  begin  to  sing.      It  is  not  the 

Marseillaise,  nor  any  such  song  of  wild  liberty.      It  is 

something  softer,  sweeter,  and,  till  this  hour,  unheard 

by  him, — 

"  0  merveilleuse  liistoire 

De  Clirist,  mon  Eedemptenr, 
Qui,  du.haut  de  sa  gloire. 
Descend  pour  moi  pecheur  ! " 

What  is  this  "  history,"  and  who  is  this  ''  Re- 
deemer," and  what  does  a  ''  sinner  "  mean  ?  The 
words,  the  tune,  the  young  voices  that  sing,  are 
irresistible.  The  listener  never  heard  such  news 
before.  Are  they  true  ?  And  has  he,  a  poor 
communist,  just  come  from  banishment  or  out  of 
prison,  anything  to  do  with  such  love  as  this  ? 

Or  perhaps  the  little  ones,  still  gathered  round 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.      5 

their  strange-looking  father,  or  brother,  and  gazing 
up  into  his  face,  begin, — 

"  Reviens,  reviens, 
Enfant,  parmi  les  tiens  ! 
Tu  cheniines  dans  Tombre, 
Et  ta  route  est  bien  sombre  ; 
O  paii\Te  enfant  perdu 
Re\T.ens,  oh,  reviens,  reviens  ! " 

He  comes  under  a  new  influence,  as  he  listens 
and  learns.  The  words  fall  on  him  like  a  spell, 
which  he  feels,  but  cannot  explain.  He  does  not 
yet  comprehend  the  wondrous  truths  ;  but  he  yields 
to  the  power  of  the  scene  and  the  song  :  they  calm 
and  they  please.  He  must  learn  more  about  this 
story  of  sin  and  love,  human  sin  and  Divine  love, 
that  has  so  changed  Belleville.  The  punishment 
through  which  he  has  passed  has  only  hardened  and 
soured  him  ;  but  these  hymns  now  sounding  through 
his  old  dwelling,  they  win  him  from  all  thoughts 
of  revenge,  and  make  his  heart  soft  as  a  child's. 
Again  the  little  voices  begin ;   and  he  listens, — 

"  0  bonlieur,  6  grace  ; 

Voici  le  Sauveur  ! 
II  souffre  a  la  place 

Du  pauvre  pecheur. 
Chantons  sa  victoire, 

]&levons  la  voix ; 
Celebrons  la  gloire 

De  sa  sainte  croix. " 


The  White  Fields  of  France. 


The  "  cross  !  "  He  sees  no  cross  in  their  hands,  or 
hanging  round  their  necks,  or  placed  against  the 
walls  of  his  house.  Yet  they  sing  of  the  cross. 
What  cross  ?  Not  the  old  "  crucifix,"  which  the 
priests  blessed,  which  the  women  kissed,  which  the 
dying  hugged,  and  the  children  knelt  before.  There 
is  not  a  crucifix  in  the  house.  What  "  cross  "  do 
they  mean  when  they  sing  of  the  ''  glory  of  the 
holy  cross  "  ?     He  has  all  this  yet  to  learn. 

Shall  we  sing  you  just  another  "  cantique," 
father  ?  Yes,  as  many  as  you  like.  I  could  listen 
all  the  day  long. 

"  Viens,  ame  qui  pleures 

Viens  a  ton  Sauveur  ; 
Dans  les  tristes  lieures 

Dis-lui  ta  doiileur, 
Dis  tout  bas  ta  plainte 

Au  Seigneur  Jesus, 
Parle-lui  sans  crainte 

Et  ne  pleure  plus," 

Sorrow  and  tears  !  Yes  ;  communist  as  he  is,  he  is 
a  man  with  a  human  heart,  and  he  has  known 
these.  In  his  dark  cell  he  has  wept  warm  tears ; 
and  now,  as  soon  as  he  returns  to  his  dwelling  he 
hears  a  voice,  as  from  heaven,  telling  him  what  to 
do  with  these, — take  them  to  Jesus. 

He  had  heard  nothing  of  all  this  in  prison ;  he 
had  seen  nothing  of  Belleville  since  he  was  led  off 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.       7 

in  chains,  eight  years  ago,  to  be  tried  for  treason  or 
for  murder  ;  he  is  released  from  his  fetters  ;  he  comes 
back  to  his  old  haunts ;  the  streets  and  houses  are 
the  same  ;  but  somehow  there  is  a  wondrous  differ- 
ence everywhere.  Is  he  to  come  under  the  new 
influence,  or  to  be  just  what  he  was  ? 

He  has  a  history  to  learn,  a  blank  to  fill  up  in 
his  memory  ;  and  he  begins  to  question  others  as  to 
how  all  this  came  about,  and  to  ask  himself  if  it  is 
no  prison-dream, — one  of  the  many  which  so  often 
cheated  him  in  his  chains  ? 

When  he  went  to  prison  he  believed  nothing; 
and  he  knew  that  the  greater  part  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  had,  like  himself,  no  creed.  No  God,  no 
Christ,  no  Bible,  no  life  beyond  death, — were  the 
four  articles  which  he  would  have  subscribed,  if  he 
would  affix  his  name  to  anything  in  the  shape  of 
faith  or  no  faith.      He  finds  matters  changed. 

Death  an  eternal  sleep,  and  religion  an  imposture  of 
the  priesthood  he  would  subscribe  to.  For  more  than 
a  century  these  had  been  the  watchwords  of  France, 
or  at  least  of  Paris  ;  and  he  is  surprised  to  find  them 
not  so  popular  as  they  used  to  be.  He  had  despised 
the  Church,  not  merely  as  a  delusion  and  an  oppres- 
sion ;  but  because  its  officials,  high  and  low,  made 
their  livelihood  by  professing  a  belief  which  they 
had  not,  and  ministering  at  an  altar  at  which  in 


8  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

secret  they  mocked.  He  had  hated  the  priests 
because  they  had  been  feasting  when  the  citizens 
were  starving ;  drinking  the  finest  wines  when  the 
thousands  about  them  had  only  the  water  of  the 
puddle  or  the  sewer  to  drink.  He  finds  now  spring- 
ing up  among  his  old  comrades  a  religion  in  which 
there  is  no  insincerity,  nor  self-pampering.  The  old 
religion,  he  thought,  was  crushed,  when  the  priests 
were  shot  at  Haxo,  and  the  archbishop  in  his 
dungeon.  But  here  is  a  new  religion  beginning  to 
supplant  it ;  and  what  is  more  remarkable, — here 
is  faith  venturing  to  raise  its  head, — faith  which 
the  goddess  of  reason  had  long  since  destroyed. 

And  the  faith  which  he  finds  is  evidently  real. 
It  may  be  fanaticism,  but  it  is  not  superstition ;  it 
may  be  foolishness,  but  it  is  not  hypocrisy.  The 
men  who  say  they  believe  arc  simple  and  earnest. 
They  make  no  gain  by  their  creed,  and  they  do  not 
lord  it  over  others,  but  are  gentle  and  loving.  They 
speak  to  one  another  of  that  which  no  priest  nor 
bishop  ever  spoke, — the  love  of  Christ,  and  the  free 
pardon  of  sin.  Their  pastors,  too,  are  affable  and  kind, 
taking  no  money  from  the  flock,  but  gladly  giving, 
and  helping,  and  comforting.  Their  churches,  too, 
are  not  cathedrals,  gaudy  with  tinselled  splendour, 
and  ministered  in  by  men  dressed  in  the  cast-off 
clothes  of  Pagan  Rome  ;  but  simple  rooms,  enlarged 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.      9 

by  the  removal  of  partitions ; — at  the  best,  halls,  of 
moderate  size ;  with  no  stained  windows,  nor  marble 
statues,  nor  gilded  rails,  nor  fretted  roof,  nor  oaken 
stalls,  nor  groined  arches,  nor  massive  pillars,  nor 
mosaic  floors ; — most  of  them  old  shops  whitewashed 
and  brushed  up  for  the  occasion  ; — which,  in  the 
simplicity  of  their  furniture  speak  of  the  simplicity 
of  the  worship,  and,  in  the  bold  calico  placards 
with  their  bright  texts  all  over  the  clean  walls,  make 
known  beyond  mistake  the  creed  here  taught, — the 
sin  of  man  and  the  grace  of  God  : — death  through 
sin,  and  life  through  the  Sinbearer,  the  Son  of 
God.-^'^ 

The  priesthood  is  still  in  existence;  but  it  is  in  abey- 
ance,— the  priests  are  nowhere,  the  pastor  is  every- 
where. Yet  the  word  ''Protestantism"  is  never  heard; 
— can  this  be  Protestantism  ?  What  does  "  the 
Gospel "  mean  ?  What  does  "  evangelical  "  mean  ? 
What   are  these   ''  reunions,''   these   "  conferences," 


*  Some  have  been  heard  condemning  such  room-gatherings  or 
shop-meetings  as  dishonouring  to  religion.  With  them  the  "dim 
religious  light"  and  the  "long-drawn  aisle"  is  everything,  and 
these  bright  rooms  with  their  white  walls  and  outshining  texts  are  not 
only  poor  but  discreditable.  These  complaints  are  not  new,  either 
in  France  or  in  England.  In  the  life  of  the  famous  William  Grimshaw 
we  are  told  that  when  that  zealous  clergyman  began  his  cottage 
meetings,  he  was  denounced  by  the  neighbouring  clergy  as  doing  that 
which  was  ' '  a  dishonour  to  God  and  tending  to  bring  religion  into 
contempt "  {Life,  p.  53). 


lo  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

which  the  Government  so  pleasantly  recognise,  and 
countenance  without  limit  ?  No  angry  men  mount 
the  platform  to  stir  up  the  passions  of  the  people,  by 
reminding  them  of  their  poverty  and  bondage,  of 
the  inequality  of  ranks,  and  the  arrogance  of  the 
rich.  The  speaker  does  not  declaim  against  priests, 
or  masses,  or  processions,  or  fetes.  He  preaches 
what  he  calls  "  good  news  ; "  and  these  good  news 
seem  somehow  most  wonderfully  to  melt  and  yet 
to  calm  the  audience ;  they  are  all  about  a  love 
of  which  he  had  never  heard  before,  of  which 
no  priest  had  ever  spoken ;  and  about  a  joy 
which  he  had  not  even  so  much  as  imagined  could 
exist  in  connection  with  religion  at  all.  He  hears 
the  words  "free  pardon," — what  does  that  mean?  He 
hears  of  the  "deliverance  of  the  captive," — what 
does  that  mean  ?  And  as  he  listens  to  the  simple 
prayers,  he  says,  Surely  this  man  does  believe  in  a 
God,  and  has  a  Father  in  heaven,  to  whom  he  speaks, 
and  who  speaks  to  him.  And  that  Book  from  which 
he  reads,  and  which  he  calls  the  Word  of  God, — 
how  simple,  how  loving,  yet  how  searching  are  all 
its  utterances  !  He  will  inquire  into  these  things 
which  so  many  of  his  old  companions  have  adopted. 
What  if  they  are  all  true  ?  Perhaps  there  is  a  God, 
and  a  Christ,  and  a  Bible,  and  a  state  of  endless  joy 
or  sorrow. 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.     1 1 

He  goes  up  to  one  of  these  evangelists  or  pastors 
and  asks  if  lie  really  believes  all  he  preaches  ? 

''  I  do,"  says  the  earnest  man. 

"  You  seem  to  do  so  certainly,  but  as  the  priests 
do  not  believe  what  they  say,  I  thought  you  might 
be  only  assuming  the  earnestness  which  you  show." 

"  I  believe  every  word  that  I  have  spoken." 

"  And  is  all  that  you  have  said  really  true  ? " 

"  I  am  assured  that  it  is  ;  for  I  have  read  it  from 
the  Book  of  Him  who  cannot  lie." 

"  You  are  aware  that  the  priests  do  not  believe?" 

''  I  am  ;  but  what  difference  does  that  make  to 
you  or  me?" 

''  None ;  only  I  thought  you  did  not  know 
this." 

"  I  know  it  too  well.  A  friend  of  mine  called 
for  a  church-dignitary  whom  he  knew,  and  some 
such  conversation  as  the  following  took  place  : — 

"  'Now  that  we  are  alone,'  said  the  man  of  office, 
'  let  us  speak  freely.  Forget  that  you  are  a  pastor, 
and  I'll  forget  that  I  am  a  priest.' 

'''What  then?' 

" '  Oh  !  you  know  I  believe  nothing,  and  you 
believe  nothing ;  we  preach  only  to  deceive  the 
people.' 

"  '  Pardon  me  ;  it  is  not  so  :  I  believe  from  the 
heart  all  I  say ;   do  you  really  not  ? ' 


12  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  '  I  am  ashamed  of  myself/  said  the  prelate  sadly, 
and  with  downcast  face. 

''  So  you  see,  my  good  friend/'  resumed  the  pastor 
to  the  communist,  ''  I  know  the  priesthood  well. 
But  their  unbelief  does  not  shake  my  faith.  I  do 
believe  the  glad  tidings  that  I  preach ;  and  in 
believing  them  I  have  been  made  inexpressibly 
happy  ;  and  I  want  you  to  be  the  same." 

Thus  the  poor  communist  is  made  somewhat  to 
understand  that  during  these  years  of  his  imprison- 
ment or  exile  strange  things  have  been  doing  and 
strange  words  spoken  in  Paris.  The  elements  of  storm 
have  almost  disappeared.  It  would  not  be  easy  to 
get  up  a  revolution  in  Belleville  now ;  and  besides, 
if  all  that  he  sees  and  hears  is  true,  there  is  no  need 
of  one.  These  pastors  with  their  new  doctrines  are 
doing  what  barricades  and  petroleum  could  not  effect. 
They  are  changing  the  face  of  society;  producing 
liberty ;  and  bringing  all  classes  of  the  community 
together  as  brethren.  There  is  a  battle  still ;  but 
it  is  not  the  old  one  between  unbelief  and  credulity, — 
that  is,  between  atheism  and  Rome ;  it  is  between 
unbelief  and  faith; — the  new  faith,  if  it  is  to  be 
called  so,  the  faith  which  has  a  great  deal  to  say  for 
itself,  even  to  a  communist. 

And  then  there  is  this  Bible  which  everybody  is 
reading.      How  has  it  come  to   supplant  Voltaire, 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.     13 

and  to  take  such  hold  of  men's  minds  ?  Where  did 
it  come  from,  and  how  has  it  penetrated  into  the 
homes  of  Belleville,  so  that  even  the  children  read 
it,  and  grey-headed  infidels  are  not  ashamed  to 
listen  ? 

And  the  police, — how  is  it  that  they  are  so  civil 
at  all  these  meetings, —  coming  not  as  spies,  but 
as  friends  and  protectors  ?  In  former  days  every 
gathering  was  either  altogether  prohibited  or  closely 
watched,  and  all  names  taken  down  and  reported  to 
Government.  Ask  them,  and  they  will  tell  you  how 
this  new  religion  has  lightened  their  work,  and 
quieted  one  district  after  another ;  they  will  tell  you 
how  their  superiors  are  interested  in  all  that  is  going 
on,  and  every  functionary  of  Government  sustains 
them  in  their  protection  of  these  new  pastors.  They 
will  tell  you  that  twice  over  has  the  chief  pastor 
received  public  thanks  for  his  labours;  and  two 
medals  of  honour  from  two  of  the  great  public 
societies  of  the  city/'' 

*  "  I  should  not  do  justice  to  this  subject  were  I  not  to  speak  of  the 
disposition  shown  by  those  now  in  power.  The  Ministry,  as  you 
know,  is  almost  half  Protestant  numericallj'-,  and  more  than  half  in 
spirit  and  in  politics.  You  know,  also,  what  a  careful  distinction 
the  leader  of  the  Republican  party,  M.  Gambetta,  made  between  the 
different  Churches  in  his  speech  at  Romans,  when  putting  the  ques- 
tion of  the  agreement  existing  between  the  Churches  and  the  State. 
The  prefects,  too,  are  inspired  with  this  liberal  spirit,  and  although 
liberty  for  religious  meetings  is  not  yet  written  in  our  laws,  they 
make  no  difficulty  in  granting  the  necessary  authorisations  for  meet- 


14  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

How  has  all  this  come  to  pass  ?  he  asks  in  amaze- 
ment. He  is  not  long  in  getting  an  answer.  He 
learns  that  a  stranger  came  to  Paris  from  England 
some  years  since ;  spoke  lovingly  to  the  people,  and 
won  their  hearts  ;  put  into  their  hands  books  which 
he  called  gospels ;  opened  halls  of  instruction,  and 
taught  both  young  and  old  to  sing  those  hymns  to 
which  he  has  been  listening. 

It  is  of  this  stranger  and  his  work  that  I  have 
undertaken  to  write  ;  and  he  who  reads  what  follows 
will  see  how  closely  these  introductory  remarks  bear 
upon  my  narrative. 

In  August,  1871,  Mr.  M'All  visited  Paris;  in 
January,  1872,  he  commenced  his  first  meeting 
in  Belleville ;  and  now,  in  1879,  he  has  twenty-three 
stations  in  Paris,  and  four  in  Lyons.  The  work  has 
prospered  beyond  all  thought ;  and  the  sphere  has 
been  widening  year  after  year. 

ings  and  lectures.  At  the  time  that  my  pamphlet  ("La  Question 
Religieuse  ")  was  condemned  in  Rome,  it  obtained  from  the  Minister 
of  the  Interior  the  colportage  stamp — that  is  to  say,  authority  to  be 
freely  distributed  by  booksellers  and  colporteurs.  In  a  word,  Pro- 
testantism has  never  found  a  more  favourable  opportunity  for 
propagandism.  With  such  liberty  for  going  about,  speaking,  cir- 
culating Bibles  and  controversial  pamphlets,  united  to  the  living 
faith  which  animated  them,  what  would  not  the  reformers  of  the 
sixteenth  century  have  accomplished  !  And  what  shall  not  we,  their 
unworthy  descendants,  accomplish,  if  we  raise  again  the  old  standard 
and  hold  by  the  glorious  traditions  of  their  zeal  and  activity  I "  - 
M.  Reveillaud,  in  TJie  Catholic  Presbyterian. 


Fragments  of  History^  New  and  Old,     15 

His  first  visit  was  for  recreation,  his  second  was 
the  inauguration  of  earnest  work.  He  did  not 
know,  when  he  went  to  refresh  himself  after  the 
fatigues  of  pastoral  duty  in  England,  that  it  was 
to  receive  a  call  to  labour  in  France  that  he  had 
gone.  While  he  was  purposing  one  thing,  God  was 
preparing  another.  Hadleigh  with  its  4000  inhabit- 
ants was  to  be  exchanged  for  Paris  with  its  two 
millions ;  and  the  four  days'  sojourn  in  the  French 
capital,  as  a  passing  traveller,  was  to  be  the  providen- 
tial link  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  exchange. 

It  is  on  our  journeys  that  God  so  often  meets 
us,  and  gives  ns  new  directions,  or  entrusts  us  un- 
expectedly with  a  new  commission  :  deranging  all 
former  plans,  and  sending  us  on  an  errand,  perhaps 
the  very  last  that  we  could  have  expected  to  be  sent 
upon.  Of  many  others  besides  Paul  it  may  be  told 
how  they  had  seen  the  Lord  in  the  way,  and  that 
He  had  spoken  to  them  (Acts  ix.  7).  Of  the  peculiar 
turns  and  changes  in  a  good  man's  life,  this  is  the 
only  true  account  that  can  be  given, — ''  Jacob  went 
on  his  way,  and  the  angels  of  God  met  him " 
(Gen.  xxxii.  1). 

Out  of  such  a  ''  seeing  "  and  such  a  "  meeting  " 
the  present  work  arose.  The  things  in  it  called 
by  us  ''  accidents "  were  parts  of  God's  purpose 
of  favour  to  a  city  where  Atheism  and  Romanism 


1 6  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

had  hitherto  held  unquestioned  sway ;  where  crime 
and  lust  and  ungodliness  overflowed  in  every  faubourg 
and  street. 

Paris  was  about  the  unlikeliest  place  for  such  a 
mission,  and  the  last  town  in  Europe  for  which  bless- 
ing might  have  been  expected.  Moralists  regarded 
it  as  the  focus,  or  rather  arsenal,  of  wickedness  and 
desperate  outrage.  Statesmen  spoke  of  it  as  the 
crater  of  a  great  volcano.  Apocalyptic  interpreters 
pointed  it  out  as  the  likeliest  scene  of  the  vials 
of  Divine  vengeance.  Christian  men  mourned  over 
it  as  hopeless  and  inaccessible  to  the  Gospel, — 
wholly  given  to  pleasure  and  frivolity. 

To  appreciate  the  enterprise,  one  must  remember 
the  nature  of  the  field  entered  on.  The  enormous 
obstructions  can  only  be  properly  understood  by 
those  who  have  lived  in,  and  known  the  city,  or 
studied  the  histories  of  the  French  Eevolution,  in 
which  the  state  of  the  people, — moral,  social,  and 
political, — is  described,  as  a  sort  of  necessary  in- 
troduction to  the  story  of  the  revolution-crimes. 
The  first  three  books  of  Carlyle's  History  may  be 
most  instructively  read  in  connection  with, — I 
had  almost  said  as  a  preface  to, — the  story  of  the 
M'AU  Mission;  and  any  one  who  has  dipped  into 
that  strange  romance,  "  The  Mysteries  of  Paris,"  by 
Eugene  Sue,  will  not  wonder  that  we  should  speak 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.     17 

of  that  metropolis  as  the  most  hopeless  and  inac- 
cessible of  all  mission-fields.  A  chapter  of  any  of 
the  above  works,  placed  side  by  side  with  one  of 
Mr.  M'All's  reports,  will  give  a  reader  some  idea  of 
how  much  faith  and  Christian  bravery  were  required, 
to  attempt  or  even  to  project  such  an  enterprise. 

But  the  truth  is,  in  all  great  works  God  never 
leaves  it  with  man  to  project  the  scheme,  or  to 
forecast  the  issues.  He  leads  the  chosen  man  to 
the  entrance ;  and  without  telling  him  whether 
the  work  is  great  or  little,  easy  or  arduous,  He  says, 
— "  There  is  thy  work,  do  it :  form  no  ambitious 
plans,  nor  get  up  some  great  organisations,  but  do 
the  work  before  thee,  asking  no  questions.  The  rest 
will  follow  :  the  work  is  mine,  not  thine  ;  be  not 
careful  about  the  means  or  the  issue." 

The  hopelessness  of  religious  work  in  Paris  was 
the  sad  but  settled  conviction  of  some  of  our  most 
devoted  Christian  men  :  of  those  especially  who 
knew  it  best  and  remembered  its  past  history.  It 
was  the  city  which  had  quenched  the  Reformation 
with  blood  in  the  days  of  Calvin.  It  was  the  centre 
of  the  St.  Bartholomew  massacre,  and  of  the  revo- 
lution which  at  the  close  of  last  century  horrified 
Europe  with  its  atrocities.  It  was  the  city  of  the 
Guises  and  the  Bourbons,  the  city  of  Robespierre 
and   Danton,   the   city  which   of  all  others  seemed 

c 


1 8  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

most  to  have  fought  against  God, — against  Christ 
and  His  Gospel.  No  wonder  that  men  despaired 
of  it.  Can  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Paris  ?  Can 
any  good  thing  get  into  it  ? 

Yet  in  the  annals  of  that  Capital  there  are  many 
scenes  of  brightness,  and  names  of  holy  zeal.  It  was 
the  city  of  Margaret  of  Navarre,  sister  of  Francis  I. , 
and  friend  of  Calvin ;  of  her  who  for  so  long 
shielded  the  Reformation  and  held  fellowship  with 
the  Reformers,  and  who,  when  wearied  with  Paris, 
St.  Germaine,  and  Fontainebleau,  thus  wrote : — 

"  Adieu  !  pomps,  vanities,  adieu, 
No  longer  commune  I  witli  you. 
Other  pleasures  seek  I  none 
But  my  Bridegroom's  love  alone  ; 
Honour,  riches,  all  my  store 
Is  in  Jesus  evermore. 
For  the  fleeting  and  the  vain 
Shall  I  give  the  eternal  gain  ? 
Adieu !    Adieu ! " 

It  was  the  city,  too,  of  the  noble  Berquin,  in  whom 
the  Protestants  had  hoped  to  see  the  Reformer  of 
France,  who  was  hurried  to  the  burning  pile  lest  the 
king  should  revoke  the  sentence;  of  Joubert,  the 
martyr ;  of  Marot,  the  sweet  singer ;  and  Toussain, 
the  young  prebendary  of  Metz ;  and  Nicholas  Doullon, 
who  was  burnt  alive  in  front  of  Notre  Dame,  refusing 
to   "  apologise  to   the   Virgin "  for   not  giving  her 


Fragmejits  of  History^  New  mid  Old.      19 

divine  honours  ;  and  De  la  Tour,  who,  being  charged 
with  having  sowed  Lutheran  errors  not  only  in  Paris, 
but  in  Edinburgh,  where  he  had  been  with  the  Duke 
of  Albany,  was  burnt  at  the  pig-market ;  and  the  poor 
nameless  Christaudin  of  Meaux,  who  suffered  on  the 
Greve  of  Paris ;  and  the  peasant  of  Rieux,  Denis  by 
name,  who,  after  the  efforts  of  his  torturers  to  make 
him  deny  his  Lord  had  proved  vain,  was  condemned 
to  the  hurdle,  the  stake,  the  flame  ;  and  Stephen 
Renier,  the  cordelier,  who  died  confessing  Christ  in 
the  fire;  and  Jonas,  the  learned  schoolmaster  of 
Annonay,  who,  with  twenty-five  fellow-witnesses,  was 
sent  to  starve  in  prison  by  the  Archbishop  of  Vienne. 
It  was  the  city  of  the  high-born  Coligny,  whose 
grey  hairs  could  not  save  him  from  the  poniard  of 
Besme  and  the  kicks  of  Guise ;  of  Cond^,  and  Rouil- 
lard,  andTeligny,  and  of  a  host  of  brave,  pious,  learned 
men,  some  of  whom  were  spared,  but  most  of  whom 
perished  by  the  sword  of  assassins,  instigated  to  their 
desperate  work  of  murder  by  the  princes  of  the  realm, 
and  by  the  bishops  and  priests  of  Rome. 

These  are  some  specimens  of  French  martyrdom 
which,  amid  much  that  is  unhopeful,  bid  us  hope 
for  the  land  where  Christ  had  witnesses  of  old,  so 
many,  so  bold,  so  true. 

I  had  thought  of  giving  some  further  examples  of 
the  "  noble  army  of  martyrs  "  in  France,  to  interest 


20  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

and  to  cheer  the  Christian  friends  connected  with 
the  present  Mission  ;  but  this  would  lead  me  too  far 
aside  from  my  main  purpose.  I  have  written  enough 
to  show  what  a  storehouse  of  noble  names  and  noble 
deeds  the  religious  history  of  that  land  contains. 

There  is  another  portion  of  church  history  which 
I  should  much  have  liked  to  take  up  in  connection 
with  our  .present  hopes  and  fears  for  France.  I 
mean  the  relation  in  which  it  stood  with  reference 
to  other  countries  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation. 
A  reader  of  French  history  is  greatly  struck  with 
this,  and  wonders  as  he  sees  what  a  centre  Paris 
was  at  that  time  for  the  preachers  of  the  truth,  and 
what  a  helping  hand  oftentimes  France  held  out 
to  the  persecuted  of  other  countries,  even  in  the 
midst  of  her  own  sufferings.  *'  God  is  not  unright- 
eous to  forget  her  work  and  labour  of  love,  in  that 
she  ministered  to  the  saints,"  and  received  those 
who  were  cast  out  by  the  hostile  Romanism  of 
Europe. 

Not  only  Germany,  Bohemia,  and  Switzerland  ; 
but  Spain,  Italy,  and  England  received  help  from 
her,  and  were  by  her  helped  in  return. 

Let  me  give  a  specimen  of  what  I  mean,  in  a 
page  or  two,  which  I  would  call  "  A  Scottish  Chapter 
of  Old  French  History."  It  will  interest,  I  think, 
the  friends  of  the  ''  M'All  Mission,"  especially  when 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.     21 

they  remember  that  the  head  of  that  mission  is  him- 
self a  Scot  by  descent. 

Scotland  and  France  were  at  one  time  special 
friends.  Nor  was  it  the  Reformation  that  broke  the 
relationship,  but  the  brutal  violence  of  the  Guises 
and  the  subserviency  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  to  their 
plots  for  the  overthrow  of  Scottish  liberty. 

Even  the  bloodshed  of  St.  Bartholomew's  day 
did  not  wholly  detach  Protestant  Scotland  from  her 
ancient  ally;  for  long  afterwards  we  find  the  inter- 
course between  the  two  countries  maintained  :  and 
the  Presbyterian  ministers  of  the  North,  banished 
by  James  VI.  from  their  native  land,  took  refuge^ 
in  France,  and  preached  the  Gospel  there. 

One  notable  instance  of  this  I  select,  as  showing 
not  only  the  intimacy  between  the  two  nations,  but 
the  religious  bond  between  French  and  Scottish 
Protestantism. 

John  Welsh,  minister  of  Ayr,  with  five  com- 
panions, fled  to  France  to  escape  the  anger  of  the 
Scottish  king.  On  the  7th  of  November,  1606, 
early  in  the  morning,  they  set  sail  from  Leith,  on 
the  sands  of  which,  in  the  dark  of  a  wintry  storm, 
friends  from  many  parts  had  gathered  together,  to 
pray,  to  sing  the  23rd  Psalm,  and  to  bid  farewell. 
They  set  sail  for  the  south  of  France,  and  landed  at 
Bordeaux. 


2  2  The  White  Fields  of  Frajzce. 

Within  fourteen  weeks  after  his  arrival,  Welsh 
was  able  to  preach  in  French,  and  was  called  to 
exercise  his  ministry,  first  at  Nerac,  then  at  Jonsack, 
and  then  at  Saint  Jean  d'Angely,  where  he  remained 
about  sixteen  years,  much  to  the  comfort  and  bene- 
fit of  the  Reformed  Church  of  France  ;  though  he 
himself  was  ill  at  ease,  and  writes  home  to  his 
friends  of  his  discomforts  ;  while  the  records  of  the 
Synod  of  St.  Maisant  in  1609  show  that  his  eccle- 
siastical superiors  sometimes  drew  the  bridle  too 
tightly  for  his  free  northern  spirit. 

Tradition  says  that  though  he  made  such  progress 
in  French  speaking,  he  sometimes  forgot  his  rules 
and  accents.  When  expounding  scripture  or  stating 
doctrine  his  language  was  exact.  But  when  he 
proceeded  to  the  warmth  of  exhortation  and  appeal, 
he  was  apt  "  to  neglect  the  accuracy  of  the  French 
construction."  Some  excellent  young  Frenchmen 
endeavoured  to  set  him  right,  "  which  he  took  in 
very  good  part,"  arranging  with  them  that  they 
were  to  watch  him  carefully,  and  at  the  least  gram- 
matical impropriety,  give  him  a  sign  of  his  devia- 
tion by  standing  up.  How  often  these  careful 
friends  had  to  rise  we  are  not  told.  But  we  are 
informed  that  he  took  the  utmost  possible  care, 
"  not  only  to  deliver  good  matter,  but  to  recommend 
it    in    neat   expression."      His   anxiety  to   produce 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old,     23 

perfect  French  is  an  example  to  our  modern  Scotch 
and  English  workers  in  the  mission-field.  Polite- 
ness may  keep  a  foreigner  from  smiling  at  our 
idioms,  but  not  the  less  is  the  effect  of  the  address 
marred  by  inaccuracy.  It  would  appear  that  270 
years  ago,  the  young  men  of  France  were  a  little 
particular,  perhaps  fastidious.      It  is  not  less  so  now. 

While  he  preached  to  the  peasantry  of  France  in 
their  villages,  he  preached  also  before  the  University 
of  Saumur,  ''with  boldness  and  authority,"  and  was 
called  frequently  to  address  an  auditory  in  which 
there  were  "  persons  of  great  quality."  It  was  on 
one  of  these  occasions  that  Boyd  of  Trochrig  asked 
how  he  could  be  so  bold  in  such  circumstances,  and 
received  the  memorable  answer,  that  in  preaching 
the  Word  of  God  he  was  "  so  filled  with  dread  of 
God  that  he  had  no  fear  of  man  at  all." 

While  he  was  minister  in  one  of  the  French  vil- 
lages, a  friar  came  to  his  house  asking  to  be  lodged 
for  the  night.  He  was  kindly  entertained,  and  had 
a  bedroom  assigned  to  him  adjoining  that  of  the 
minister.  Happening  to  awake  during  the  night, 
he  heard  a  continuous  Avhispering,  which  troubled 
him  not  a  little,  ascribing  it  to  evil  spirits  haunting 
the  Protestant  house.  Walking  abroad  next  day,  a 
peasant  saluted  him  and  asked  him  how  he  did. 

"  Where  lodged  you  last  night  ?  " 


24  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  With  the  Huguenot  minister,"  said  the  friar. 

"  What  sort  of  entertainment  had  you  ?  "  asked 
the  peasant. 

''Very  bad.  I  always  believed  that  these 
Huguenot  houses  were  haunted ;  but  I  never  proved 
it  till  last  night.  There  was  a  continual  whisper 
in  the  room  next  mine;  and  I  am  sure  it  was  the 
devil  and  the  minister  talkino;  together." 

"  You  are  far  mistaken,"  said  the  peasant  ;  "it 
was  the  minister  at  his  night-prayers." 

"  What !  does  the  minister  pray  ?  " 

"  Yes,  more  than  any  man  in  France ;  and  if  you 
will  stay  another  night,  you  may  make  sure." 

The  friar  returned  to  the  Huguenot  h  ouse  and  begged 
lodging  for  another  night,  which  was  at  once  granted. 
"Before  dinner,"  says  the  old  narrative,  "Mr.  Welsh 
came  down  from  his  chamber  and  made  his  family 
exercise  according  to  his  wont.  He  sang  a  psalm  ; 
he  read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  commenting  on  it ; 
and  then  prayed."  The  friar  looked  and  listened 
with  astonishment.  Dinner  was  then  served,  and 
the  friar  was  kindly  entertaiued;  the  good  Huguenot 
minister  asking  no  questions  and  entering  on  no 
disputes.  The  evening  came,  and  with  it  the 
"  evening  exercise,"  quite  like  that  of  the  morning, 
to  the  friar's  yet  greater  wonder.  They  supped  and 
went  to  bed.      But  the  friar  was  resolved  to  keep 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.     25 

awake  and  hear  the  strange  sounds  which  he  had 
heard  the  night  before.  He  then  went  and  put  his 
ear  to  the  door  to  satisfy  himself  as  to  what  the 
sound  really  was.  " Then,"  writes  the  old  biographer, 
"  he  heard  not  only  the  sound  but  the  very  words  ; 
and  in  these  words  communications  between  man  and 
God  such  as  he  had  never  believed  to  be  in  this 
world."  The  day  broke,  and  Mr.  Welsh  came  out 
of  his  room.  The  friar  went  to  him,  bewailed  his 
ignorance,  and  asked  instruction.  Kindly  did  the 
minister  receive  him  ;  bidding  him  welcome  in  the 
name  of  God,  and  showinsf  him  the  true  ligjht  which 
had  been  so  long  hidden  from  him.  That  light 
entered  his  soul,  and  in  it  he  walked  till  his  dying 
hour. 

Louis  XII.  made  war  upon  the  Protestants,  to 
extirpate  the  faith ;  and  besieged  the  town  of 
Rochelle.  Encouraged  by  the  Scotch  Huguenots,  the 
citizens  resisted  to  the  utmost,  and  by  their  bravery 
secured  honourable  terms  when  at  last  induced  to 
yield.  Welsh  seems  to  have  been  the  leading  spirit 
in  the  siege ;  and  when  the  king  entered  the  city, 
Welsh  preached  as  before,  without  asking  permis- 
sion, to  the  great  offence  of  the  court.  While  the 
sermon  was  proceeding  the  king  sent  the  Duke 
d'Espernon  to  fetch  him  out  of  the  pulpit  into 
his  presence.      The  duke  went  with   his  guard ;  as 


26  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

be  entered,  Welsh  commanded  the  people  to  give 
way  and  set  a  seat  for  him.  The  duke  sat  down 
and  listened  gravely  to  the  end,  when  he  ordered 
Welsh  to  accompany  him  to  the  king,  which  he  did 
willingly.  The  king,  in  anger,  asked  why  he  had 
not  interrupted  the  minister.  "  Never  man  spake 
like  this  man,"  was  the  reply ;  ''  but  here  he  is  to 
answer  for  himself." 

The  offender  was  brought  in  ;  and  as  soon  as  he 
entered,  kneeled  down  to  ask  Divine  Avisdom. 

''  How  dare  you  preach  here,"  said  the  king ; 
"  seeing  it  is  against  the  laws  of  France  that  any 
man  should  preach  within  the  verge  of  the  court  ? " 

"  Sire,"  said  the  brave  Scotchman,  "  if  you  would 
do  the  right  thing  you  would  come  and  hear  me 
preach;  nay,  and  cause  all  France  to  come  and 
hear  me ;  for  I  preach  not  as  these  men  do  whom 
you  are  in  the  wont  of  hearing." 

"  How  ?  "  said  the  king. 

''  I  preach  that  you  must  be  saved  by  the  merits 
of  Christ,  not  by  your  own.  I  preach,  too,  that  as 
you  are  King  of  France,  you  are  not  under  the 
authority  of  man.  These  men  who  are  about  you 
would  make  you  subject  to  the  Pope  of  Rome,  which 
I  will  never  do." 

"■  Eh,  bien,  vous  seriez  mon  ministre,"  said  the 
well-pleased  monarch. 


Fragments  of  History^  New  and  Old.      27 

Welsh  was  favourably  dismissed,  instead  of  being 
punished ;  and  the  king  left  the  city  in  peace. 

Soon  after  Welsh  left  France  for  London,  where 
he  died,  after  having  for  sixteen  years  sowed,  in 
many  places  throughout  France,  the  seed  of  ever- 
lasting life. 

This  link  between  France  and  Scotland  was  only 
one  out  of  many  that  could  be  exhibited ;  but  if  it 
tend  to  draw  Scottish  eyes  and  hearts  to  the  great 
work  now  goino^  on  in  a  land  which  was  once  our 
ally  when  England  was  our  foe,  I  shall  not  have 
given  the  narrative  in  vain. 

France  is  not  hopeless ;  Paris  is  not  inaccessible 
to  the  Gospel.  The  priesthood  of  other  ages  have 
done  their  worst  to  darken  and  enslave  ;  their  hands 
are  feeble  now  ;  they  hate,  but  they  cannot  imprison, 
or  strangle,  or  burn,  or  assassinate. 

Carlyle,  in  his  mystical  narrative  of  the  Revolution, 
calls  the  Pope  ''the  Supreme  Quack."  It  would 
have  been  well  for  France  had  he  been  no  more 
than  this.  He  was  the  supreme  wrong-doer  and 
spoiler.  What  a  land  might  she  have  been  had  he 
let  her  alone,  and  not  drenched  her  in  innocent 
blood,  and  shut  out  the  Bible  from  her  millions. 

That  same  writer  adds,  "  The  first  of  all  gospels  is 
this,  that  a  lie  cannot  endure  for  ever."  Of  this  we 
are  not  so  sure.     It  may  at  least  endure  long  enough 


28  The  White  Fields  of  Fr mice. 

to  ruin  a  nation ;  and  though  he  tells  us  that  "  a  lie 
cannot  be  believed,"  we  know  how  it  has  been 
believed,  and  also  that  it  is  written,  "God  shall  send 
them  strong  delusion  that  they  should  believe  a  lie." 
But  when  he  writes  that  "  in  the  huge  mass  of  evil, 
as  it  rolls  and  swells,  there  is  some  good  work- 
ing imprisoned,  working  towards  deliverance  and 
triumjDh,"  we  gladly  accept  the  dictum  in  measure, 
only  we  prefer  to  put  it  in  another  form, — that 
"  where  sin  has  abounded,  there  grace  did  much 
more  abound." 

Germany  is  sinking  into  scepticism.  Is  France 
emerging  from  it  ?  We  do  not  hear  indeed  that  "  a 
great  company  of  the  priests  have  become  obedient 
to  the  faith  ; "  but  there  are  indications  that  some  of 
the  French  apostles  of  unbelief  are  in  earnest,  asking, 
"  What  is  truth  ? "  They  are  beginning  to  feel  the 
sorrows  of  negativism  ;  and  are  coming  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  absence  of  truth  is  a  wrong  to  their 
souls  :  that,  as  all  unbelief  is  the  belief  of  a  lie,  they 
have,  while  boasting  that  they  believed  nothing, 
been  believiug  a  thousand  lies.'"' 

*  "  Our  people  do  not  become  Protestants,  because  it  is  not  the 
custom,  because  they  fear  to  be  peculiar,  because  they  dread  what 
may  be  said  in  their  district  or  village  ;  doubtless,  also,  because 
strong  conviction  would  be  necessary,  and  they  have  only  a  vague 
sympathy.  But  when  a  Catholic  comes  out  of  his  Church  and 
attaches  himself  to  a  Protestant  congregation,  though  some  of  his 


Fragments  of  History^  New  and  Old.     29 

Clericalism  is  not  in  the  ascendant  in  France. 
Its  frantic  efforts  to  convulse  the  nation  in  order  to 
win  a  victory  for  itself  have  failed.  The  intrigues 
of  the  priesthood  have  been  unveiled  and  baffled. 
Plots  and  miracles,  effrontery  and  cunning,  have 
missed  their  aim.  Legitimacy,  Orleanism,  and 
Imperialism  have  done  their  worst.  The  reaction 
has  been  a  feeble  thing.  Old  dynasties,  like  broken 
columns,  will  not  resuscitate.  Still  less  will  old 
religions.  These  have  no  resurrection.  They 
crumble,  or  rather  rot ;  and,  from  their  corruption, 
send  up  foul  growths ;  but  they  themselves  rise  not 
again.  True  religions  have  often  revived  ;  the  false 
never. 

It  is  this  that  makes  the  present  efforts  for 
evangelising  France  so  momentous  and  so  critical. 
Now  is  the  moment  for  the  Gospel  to  strike  in  and 
do  its  work.  Souls,  tired  of  atheism,  contemptuous 
of  Popery,  sick  of  pleasure,  are  asking.  Who  will 
show  us  any  good  ?  God  is  answering  the  cry  of 
the  weary  and  the  empty,  and  sending  to  them  that 

neighbours  may  perhaps  censure  him,  the  majority  will  approve,  and 
feel  a  secret  desire  to  follow  his  example.  It  is  most  certain  that 
prominent  political  men,  like  Messrs.  Turquet  Malezieux,  Jules 
Favre,  Paul  Bouchard,  &c,,  who  have  formally  adhered  to  Protest- 
antism, have  not  found  the  sympathies  of  their  electors  diminished  * 
because  of  their  abjuration  of  Roman  Catholicism.  On  the  contrary, 
the  last  elections  proved  that  the  confidence  of  their  constituents 
had  increased."— M.  Eeveillaud. 


30  The  White  Fields  of  F^^ance. 

which  alone  can  refresh  and  fill, — the  glad  tidings 
of  His  own  free  love  manifested  in  the  cross  of  His 
Son,  the  Christ  of  God.  After  a  whole  century  of 
political  and  religious  unrest,  the  cry  for  rest  is 
coming  up,  and  the  gospel  of  rest  is  now  meeting 
this  cry. 

These  homely  halls,  in  which  that  gospel  is 
preached,  suit  far  better  the  present  work  of  pro- 
claiming rest  to  the  weary,  than  any  large  and 
splendid  structure  could  do.  The  sorrows  of  a 
spirit,  seeking  peace,  what  have  they  to  do  with  the 
artificial  and  the  garish  ?  Cathedral  gloom  repre- 
sents no  divine  idea ;  while  the  clear  pleasant  light 
of  these  unadorned  rooms  is  of  itself  cheery  and 
comforting.  Architects  and  painters  have  been  in 
all  ages  the  corrupters  of  heavenly  truths.  The 
false  creed  or  cult  they  have  beautified ;  the  true 
creed  they  have  distorted  and  degraded.  But 
here  neither  Greek  nor  Gothic  art  intrudes.  The 
halls  and  the  hymns  and  the  company  suit  each 
other  well ;  and  even  beauty-loving  Paris  will  not 
deem  this  homeliness  out  of  place,  nor  think  that 
some  Madeleine  or  Notre  Dame  would  have  com- 
ported better  with  the  message  or  the  messenger. 

There  was  an  artist  who  painted  the  first  supper ; 
but  he  painted  the  cups  so  exquisitely  that  the 
gazer's  eye  rested  on  them,  and  not  on  the  Master. 


Fragments  of  History,  New  and  Old.     3 1 

Seeing  this,  he  brushed  off  the  cups,  that  ''  Jesus 
only  "  might  be  seen.  Many  a  church  and  many  a 
sermon  have  been  to  the  audience  what  these  cups 
were.  Instead  of  ''producing  religious  feeling," 
they  have  hid  or  obscured  the  Lord. 

Paris  is  now  having  a  new  lesson  taught  her, — 
that  sculpture  and  painting,  that  temples  and 
cathedrals,  that  processions  and  fetes  are  not 
religion;  that  portraits  and  statues  and  crucifixes 
and  relics  and  madonnas  are  not  Christ;  nay,  that 
they  lead  the  heart  away  from  Him ;  and  that 
there  is  such  a  thing  as  acceptable  devotion 
without  an  altar,  or  an  image,  or  an  earthly  priest, 
— yes,  such  a  thing  as  "  worshipping  Him  who  is  a 
Spirit,  in  spirit  and  in  truth ;  " — a  truth  which  the 
nations  of  Europe  have  yet  to  learn. 


32  The  White  Fields  of  France, 


CHAPTER  II. 

KISE  OF  THE  WOEK. 

tMUST  return  to  the  visit  of  the  English  stranger 
referred  to  in  my  previous  chapter. 

I  have  ventured  on  a  long  episode,  but  by  no 
means  a  needless  one,  though,  perhaps,  it  may  not 
seem  to  others  so  indispensable  as  it  does  to  myself. 
For  my  object  in  this  little  volume  is  not  merely  to 
call  attention  to  a  modern  mission,  but  to  awaken 
a  fervent  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  religious 
history  of  a  noble  country.  Having  as  briefly  as 
possible  sketched  this  outline,  I  proceed  with  my 
main  narrative. 

The  quarter  of  Paris  known  by  the  name  of 
Belleville  was  originally  outside  the  city  walls  or 
Boulevards,  but  now  forms  the  north-eastern  part  of 
the  city,  the  circle  of  fortifications  having  been  so 
widened  as  to  embrace  this  suburb  or  fauhourgy 
as  it  is  called.  It  contains  a  population  of  about 
100,000. 


Rise  of  the  Woj^k.  33 

Though  inhabited  by  the  poorest  classes,  it  is  the 
most  elevated  in  situation,  and  about  the  healthiest 
quarter  of  the  town.  It  commands  an  extensive 
view  on  most  sides,  though  not  by  any  means  so 
wide  as  that  from  our  own  Calton  Hill  or  Castle 
rock,  here  in  Edinburgh. 

The  houses  in  general  are  inferior,  and  the  streets 
narrow ;  the  latter  very  roughly  paved,  and  the 
former  rising  to  several  storeys  in  height,  with 
something  like  what  we  call  a  ''  common  stair  "  as 
the  entrance  to  the  whole.  In  a  small  room  at  the 
foot  of  this  stair  dwells  the  concierge  or  porter,  who 
takes  charge  of  the  outer  door,  and  is  responsible  for 
the  flats  above. ■^'' 

The  character  of  the  district  for  poverty  and  crime 
is  so  well  known  in  Paris,  that  the  railway  officials 
wonder  at  so  many  English  parties,  on  their  arrival 
at  the  station  from  the  north,  inquiring  the  way  to 
Belleville  ;  and  our  cabman,  when  told  to  drive  to 
Belleville,  asked  seriously  if  we  really  knew  the 
quarter  of  the  city  we  were  going  to. 

From  being  built  on  a  considerable  eminence, 
this  faubourg  presents  slopes  of  sometimes  rather 
formidable  steepness  in  its  different  thoroughfares, 

*  There  are  no  less  than  50,000  of  these  porters  in  Paris,  to  each 
of  whom  a  lady  has  proposed  to  offer  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament. 
Upwards  of  10,000  of  these  have  been  already  distributed  and 
gratefully  received. 

D 


The  White  Fields  of  Fra^ice. 


which  the  omnibus  surmounts,  but  which  the  tram- 
way declines  to  attempt.  A  very  large  amount  of 
misery,  poverty,  and  sin  is  concentrated  here  ;  ^'"  and 
from  the  dens  with  which  its  lanes  abound  Avent 
forth  the  communists  or  levellers,  who  with  liberty, 
equality,  and  fraternity  on  their  banners,  once  sought 
to  sweep  away  not  only  rank,  but  property,  going 
out  through  the  city  as  murderers,  or  incendiaries. 
Soured  against  the  wealthy,  and  enraged  against 
a  priesthood  who  never  approached  them  but  for 
money,  and  who  during  the  great  siege  were  feeding 
luxuriously  when  they  were  starving,  or  sustained  in 
life  upon  the  vermin  of  the  common  sewers,  they 
struck  right  and  left  when  their  opportunity  came. 
Nor  could  any  one  say  that  their  provocation  had 
not  been  great,  though  their  revenge  was  terrible. 

Not  far  from  one  of  the  present  mission-stations 
is  the  street  Haxo.  Passing  the  foot  of  it  one  day, 
and  seeing  the  name  written  very  legibly  at  the 
corner,  we  asked  a  soldier  whom  we  met,  where  the 
slaughter  of  the  priests  took  place.  He  pointed  to 
the  highest  part  of  the  Rue,  some  three  or  four 
hundred  yards  off.  We  followed  his  directions,  and 
found  ourselves  in  front  of  a  large  garden  with  an 

*  Yet  not  far  off,  a  little  to  the  south,  is  the  celebrated  cemetery 
of  Pfere  Lachaise  ;  and  still  nearer,  and  forming  part  of  Belleville 
itself,  we  have  the  BuUt&  Chaumont,  one  of  the  finest  parks  to  be 
found  in  any  European  city. 


Rise  of  the  Work.  35 

iron  gate ;  and  looking  through  the  bars,  we  saw,  at 
the  further  end,  a  wall, — a  blackened  wall, — with  an 
inscribed  stone.  Into  that  garden  numbers  of  the 
priests  of  Paris  w^ere  brought  by  the  exasperated 
communists ;  to  that  wall  they  w^ere  fastened  and 
shot.  It  must  have  been  a  dreadful  scene  of  blood 
and  butchery.  The  men  of  Belleville  were  the 
perpetrators  of  it.  Awfully  was  that  blood  avenged 
by  the  Government,  when  the  army  of  Versailles 
burst  in  upon  the  city  and  bore  down  the  wretched 
communists.  All  then  was  massacre  and  fury. 
Hundreds  of  them,  men  and  w^omen,  wxre  shot 
down  in  the  streets,  and  hundreds  more  w^ere  carried 
off  to  prison,  to  be  tried,  condemned,  and  executed 
or  exiled.  Five  hundred  w^ere,  in  one  mass,  hurried 
off  to  Pere  Lachaise,  placed  upon  the  edge  of 
a  long  deep  ditch,  shot  down  by  the  soldiers,  and 
then  buried  there. 

No  excuse  can  be  offered  for  the  communists 
save  their  ignorance,  and  the  provocations  received 
in  days  past  from  aa  unsympathising  aristocracy  and 
an  unfeeling  priesthood.  That  their  passions  broke 
loose,  and  found  vent  to  themselves  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  those  whom  they  knew  to  be  their  w^orst 
enemies,  was  only  what  might  be  expected  of  men 
who  w^ere  profoundly  ignorant  both  of  religion  and 
morality,  and  who  had  been  kept  in  this  ignorance 


36  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

by  those  who  ought  to  have  taught  them,  out  of  the 
Bible,  the  principles  of  true  liberty,  true  equality, 
and  true  fraternity.  The  poor  degraded  men  were 
mostly  atheists,  and  had  been  driven  into  atheism 
by  a  priesthood  whose  lies  had  become  transparent, 
whose  licentiousness  was  notorious,  and  whose  indif- 
ference to  the  wants  of  their  fellow-men  was  a  thing 
not  attempted  to  be  concealed.  The  retribution 
upon  the  priesthood  was  cruel,  but  it  was  too  well 
deserved. 

What  self-restraint  could  be  expected  from 
ignorant,  excited  men,  who  had  been  goaded  first 
into  atheism,  and  then  into  despair  ?  They  needed 
teaching,  and  they  got  none  from  their  priests.  They 
needed  the  gospel,  and  they  were  mocked  with 
mummeries  and  demands  for  money.  They  needed 
the  example  of  a  holy,  loving  life,  and  they  saw 
nothing  but  selfishness  and  wickedness.  "Ah," 
said  one  of  them  to  one  of  Mr.  M'All's  missionaries, 
^'  had  you  been  here  some  years  ago,  there  would 
have  been  no  insurrection,  and  no  bloodshed." 
In  those  awful  scenes  of  slaughter,  Protestants 
and  Protestant  ministers  were  left  unhurt  and 
untouched,  for  even  in  their  blind  fury  these  un- 
happy men  knew  who  were  their  oppressors  and 
^ho  were  their  friends. 

It  is  among  these  that  Mr.  M'All's  remarkable 


Rise  of  the  Work.  37 

work  has  been  going  on  these  seven  years  past ; 
by  which,  and  by  other  kindred  efforts,  the  aspect 
of  the  district  has  been  changed,  and  the  lion  trans- 
formed into  the  lamb  ;  so  that,  during  the  political 
excitement  in  Paris  in  the  summer  of  1877,  all 
was  quiet  at  Belleville, 

Mr.  M'All  is  a  genuine  Scotchman  by  descent,  and 
delights  to  make  mention  of  his  Highland  ancestry 
as  Celts  of  the  Hebrides,  and  for  ages  having  had 
their  dwelling  in  the  lonely  island  of  Coll,  almost 
due  west  of  the  larger  and  better  known  island  of 
Mull,  off  the  Argyleshire  coast. 

His  father  was  the  well-known  Dr.  M'AU  of 
Manchester,  noted  for  his  genius,  his  piety,  and  his 
eloquence.  The  son  was  the  minister  of  a  Congre- 
gational church  in  Lancashire  ;  and  here  our  story 
begins, — and  it  begins  something  like  that  of  the 
Apostle  Paul  in  Greece  of  old.  There  was  no  vision, 
certainly — no  man  of  Paris,  like  that  of  Macedonia, 
saying,  "  Come  over  and  help  us ; "  but  there  was 
something  not  less  explicit  and  remarkable. 

Happening  to  be  in  Paris  soon  after  the  war,  he 
went  into  a  cafe  shortly  before  leaving.  He  was 
distributing  tracts  at  the  door,  and  Mrs.  M'All  in 
the  inside.  A  workman  grasped  his  hand  and  said, 
*'  Will  you  not  come  and  tell  us  the  true  religion  ? " 
These   words   were   enough.       They  clung   to   Mr. 


38  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

M'All  as  he  journeyed  home;  and  as  he  pondered 
them,  he  could  not  help  recognising  in  them  a 
message  from  God  to  come  over  and  help  these  poor 
Parisians.  He  severed  his  home  ties,  and,  with  his 
zealous  and  indefatigable  partner,  took  up  his  abode 
in  Belleville,  in  the  very  midst  of  these  strange 
communists,  whom  everybody  dreaded.  He  was 
entreated  not  to  throw  himself  into  danger ;  he  was 
warned  against  communistic  violence ;  he  was  told 
that  his  life  was  not  safe.  But  he  had,  in  the 
strength  of  God,  resolved  to  face  the  great  work,  and 
he  had  counted  the  cost ;  so  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  that  poor  district,  and  threw  himself  for  mission- 
ary work  among  those  men  and  women  whose  hands 
were  yet  red  with  blood. 

He  hired  a  room  for  a  hall,  sent  out  his  invi- 
tations, and  gathered  round  him  soon  a  goodly 
number  of  these  outcasts,  eager  to  hear  his  words 
and  to  listen  to  the  hymns  he  sung  to  them — 
hymns  which  seem  to  be  to  the  men  and  women  of 
that  district  what  the  Marseillaise  was  in  other  days, 
rousing  and  quickening  them,  not  to  martial  deeds 
or  works  of  violence,  but  to  wonder  at  the  unknown 
love  of  which  they  speak,  the  new  religion  which 
they  embody,  and  the  glad  tidings  which  they 
proclaim. 

In  the  autumn  of  1872  Mr.  M'All  read  a  paper 


Rise  of  the  Work.  39 

at  the  meeting  of  the  Congregational  Union  of 
England  and  Wales,  giving  his  own  narrative  of  the 
beginning  of  his  work.  It  is  very  brief,  occupying 
only  eight  printed  pages,  bat  it  is  to  us  a  singularly 
interesting  document  :  very  modest,  with  no  self- 
obtrusion  ;  yet  ample  enough  to  give  the  reader  a  full 
idea  of  the  work.  From  this  we  mean  to  quote 
largely;  both  because  of  its  excellence,  and  also  to 
prevent  the  paper  from  being  lost  sight  of.  As  it 
is  not  generally  known,  I  am  sure  that  the  reprint 
will  be  most  acceptable. 

"  I  wish  to  speak  of  our  work  witli  great  caution.  The  politi- 
cal and  moral  state  of  France,  and,  above  all,  of  its  metropolis, 
beset  such  an  enterprise  with  peculiar  difficulties.  Where  the 
travesty  of  Christianity  has  driven  multitudes  to  the  extreme 
of  atheism  ;  where,  consequently,  reckless  self-indulgence  goes 
hand-in-hand  with  hatred  of  the  misused  name  of  religion,  the 
attempt  to  testify  for  truth  and  Christ  involves  trials  of  patience 
and  courage.  Our  ambition  has  been  to  act  as  pioneers  ;  by 
Almighty  help  to  clear  a  few  spots  of  the  tliorn-infested 
ground,  and  to  scatter  therein  the  good  seed  of  eternal  life. 
We  therefore  would  present  our  enterprise  only  in  the  light  of 
an  essay,  the  hidden  results  of  which  rest  with  our  Master. 

"  How  were  we  led  to  undertake  it  1  In  August,  1871,  Mrs. 
M'All  and  I  made  a  first  visit  of  three  or  four  days  to  Paris. 
No  thought  was  more  remote  than  that  of  quitting  friends  and 
country  in  order  to  become  workers  in  France.  The  eager 
reception  of  the  tracts  we  offered,  first  impressed  us.  At  that 
period  the  populace,  fresh  from  heart-rending  disasters,  seemed 
specially  responsive  to  any  manifestation  of  kind  feeling.  We 
would  not  leave  the  city  until  we  had  taken  tracts  into  the  heart 


40  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

of  the  artisan  district — Belleville.  We  contrived  to  meet  tlie 
workmen  as  tliey  returned  homeward  at  night.  At  the  corner 
of  two  great  thoroughfares  a  large  group  gathered  round  us. 
One  intelligent  man,  who  could  speak  a  little  English,  stood 
forward,  and  asked  if  I  were  not  a  Christian  minister.  Then, 
very  earnestly,  he  spoke  to  this  effect — '  Sir,  I  have  something 
to  tell  you.  Throughout  this  whole  district,  containing  tens  of 
thousands  of  ouvriers,  we  have,  to  a  man,  done  with  the  priests. 
We  cannot  accept  an  im^josed  religion.  But  if  any  one  would 
come  to  teach  us  religion  of  another  kind,  a  religion  of  freedom 
and  reality,  many  of  us  are  ready  for  it.'  As  we  retired,  the 
voices  of  the  people  might  be  heard, — '  Bons  Anglais  !  Bons 
Anglais  ! ' 

"  Such  words,  uttered  on  such  a  spot,  could  not  be  forgotten. 
Whence  should  these  inquiries  after  truth  be  met  1  Had  the 
devoted  Christians  of  Paris  resources  sufficient  to  cover  these 
neglected  districts  with  effort  ?  Was  it  possible  that  English  or 
American  workers  would  have  advantage  for  gaining  the 
popular  ear  in  consequence  of  their  palpable  freedom  from 
political  complications  !  Could  this,  so  unexpected,  be  a  call 
to  break  the  ties  of  home,  pastorate,  and  country,  and  to  gird 
on  the  missionary  harness  for  the  bold  essay  1 

"  Months  of  anxious  consideration  followed.  Correspondence 
with  experienced  Christian  labourers  in  Paris,  especially  with 
our  kind  friend  Dr.  Fisch,  brought  us  to  decision.  The  work 
would,  doubtless,  be  difficult  and  arduous  :  yet  it  was  viewed  as 
practicable.  Our  friends  at  Hadleigh,  to  our  unspeakable  com- 
fort, came  to  give  full  weight  to  the  motive  constraining  us  to 
the  pain  of  leaving  them.  Gladly  devoting  our  small  jDrivate 
resources  in  order  to  give  ourselves  quite  freely  to  the  enter- 
prise, we  betook  ourselves,  nearly  a  year  ago,  to  the  great  foreign 
city,  and  fixed  our  residence  in  Belleville,  among  the  workmen. 

"  After  spending  two  months  in  study  of  the  language,  and 
in  countless  preliminary  arrangements  (searching  out  suitable 
localities,  obtaining  the  necessary  authorisation  from  the  Pre- 


Rise  of  the  Work.  41 

fecture,  &c.),  we,  with  the  new  year,  opened  our  first  mission- 
room,  that  in  Belleville.  On  the  day  of  our  first  meeting,  the 
Commissary  of  Police  for  the  district,  though  cordially  approv- 
ing our  object,  expressed  his  fear,  that  in  consequence  of  the 
prevailing  disposition  to  mock  at  religion,  we  should  be  unable 
to  go  forward.  The  worst  spot  in  St.  Giles's,  London,  he  said, 
would  be  far  more  easily  worked. 

"  With  trembling  hand  we  opened  our  door.  At  first  the 
people  seemed  to  hesitate  and  pass  by.  The  little  company, 
however,  numbered  forty.  There  was  no  molestation.  Our 
hopes  began  to  revive.  At  the  next  meeting  (Sunday  evening), 
the  place  was  quite  filled,  more  than  100  being  present.  Our 
friend  the  Commissary  attended,  saw  all  things  orderly  and 
quiet,  and  helped  to  sing  the  hymns.  I  may  mention  that  in 
all  arrangements  with  the  municipal  and  police  authorities  of 
Paris,  we  have  been  most  politely  treated.  Two  styled  our 
work  'an  apostolate;'  another  said,  'Bonne  chance  a  votre 
charitable  enterprise.'  Two  well-attended  services  per  week, 
besides  a  fortnightly  children's  meeting,  have  been  regularly 
held  in  the  Belleville  room  ever  since." 

All  this  is  what  men  call  "an  experiment;"  but 
it  was  the  experiment  of  faith.  Here  is  a  believing 
man,  and  his  like-minded  wife,  setting  about  a  work 
of  which  it  was  impossible  to  estimate  the  success, 
or  fully  to  count  the  cost.  It  must  be  all  committed 
to  God ;  and  it  must  be  gone  about  in  His  strength, 
with  the  assured  consciousness  that  the  cause  was 
His.  It  was  not  human  philanthropy  setting  up 
some  benevolent  institution  to  civilise  or  soften  or 
subdue  a  people  that  had  hitherto  set  all  benevo- 
lences, as  well  as  all  sternnesses  at  defiance ;   but  it 


42  The  White  Fields  of  France 

was  faith  attempting  the  impossible  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

Will  God  fail  His  trusting  servant  ?  Will  He  leave 
him  to  his  own  resources,  and  allow  him,  unhelped, 
to  fight  his  own  battle  ?  Will  He  give  him  a  settle- 
ment in  Belleville, — that  faubourg  of  100,000  com- 
munists? Will  He  gather  in  the  strange  crowd 
from  their  strange  dwellings,  from  which  they  have 
so  often  issued  to  shed  blood  ?  And  will  He  not 
only  give  him  Belleville,  but  open  doors  for  him  in 
in  other  places  ?  To  such  questions  as  these  Mr. 
M'All's  answer  is  as  follows  : — 

"  The  interest  evidenced  at  Belleville  encouraged  us  to  ex- 
tend our  operations.  After  careful  inquiries  and  some  experi- 
ments, we  increased  our  stations  to  four.  We  opened  tliat  of 
Menilmontant  (close  by  the  celebrated  cemetery  of  Pere  La- 
cliaise)  at  the  end  of  February.  Our  little  room  was  thronged 
from  the  first  day.  We  have  been  obliged  to  hire  a  larger  one, 
and  that  also  is  crowded.  It  is  a  cheering  sight,  as  the  men  in 
their  white  or  blue  blouses  enter,  often  accompanied  by  their 
wives  and  children,  and  sit  down  attentively  to  read  until  the 
meeting  shall  commence. 

"  In  April  we  opened  a  third  station,  at  Charonne,  close  by 
the  Place  du  Trone,  in  a  sjDot  noted  for  irreligion  in  every 
shape.  Patience  and  forbearance  have  been  tested  there.  But 
we  now  have  a  number  of  earnest  listeners  ;  and  the  insufficient 
accommodation  renders  a  larger  room  necessary,  which  we 
expect  to  open  on  our  return. 

"  Our  fourth  station,  on  the  new  Boulevard  Ornano,  Mont- 
martre,  amidst  a  dense  mass  of  superior  artisans,  was  also 
opened  in  April.     At  the  outset,  determined  eflbrts  were  made 


Rise  of  the  Work,  43 


by  representatives  of  tlie  ultra-atheistic  party  to  interrupt  us 
there.  We  were  also  '  written  dowii '  in  newspaper  articles. 
These  men  wished  to  assert  that  religion  and  liberty  cannot 
co-exist,  that  the  name  of  Christ  is  but  a  symbol  of  tyranny, 
&c.  &c.  While  this  opposition  lasted,  we  had  the  expressed 
sympathy  not  only  of  Protestants  of  all  communities,  but  of 
several  liberal-hearted  Koman  Catholics.  My  valued  friend, 
the  Rev.  Theodore  Monod,  and  others,  aided  me  to  answer 
these  cavils,  and  ere  long  the  interruption  ceased.  Every 
Monday  evening,  from  the  beginning,  the  room,  accommo- 
dating 150  or  more,  has  been  densely  thronged,  the  workmen 
forming  a  large  majority  in  the  audience.  At  this  station  we 
have  also  an  English  service,  undertaken  at  the  request  of  a 
small  colony  of  Englishmen  chiefly  connected  \vith  the  gas- 
works. 

"Including  two  children's  gatherings,  eleven  meetings  are 
held  every  week.  All  these  are  continued  as  usual,  by  the  aid 
of  various  friends,  during  our  brief  absence." 

The  meeting-places  are  not  of  the  grand  order ; 
rather  poor  and  peculiar  ;  but  clean  and  well  lighted. 
Sometimes  too  narrow  and  awkwardly  shaped  both 
for  speaking  and  hearing ;  projecting  angles  and 
wooden  beams  marring  all  architectural  symmetry ; 
they  still  are  quite  sufficient  for  their  purpose,  and 
well  situated  for  drawing  an  audience,  especially  of 
the  humbler  classes.  Unornamented  certainly  they 
are,  save  as  respects  the  texts  of  framed  calico, 
beautifully  executed,  of  green  and  white  or  blue, 
that  hang  all  round,  and  act  as  silent  preachers. 
We  give  Mr.  M' All's  account  of  them  : — 

"All  our  stations  are  sho'^s,  and  consequently  on  the  track  of 


44  T^^e  White  Fields  of  France. 

the  passers-by.  Three  are  on  wide  boulevards.  The  rental  of 
these,  with  incidental  expenses  and  simple  fittings,  involves  a 
heavy  outlay.  Friends  in  London,  Manchester,  Sunderland, 
Leicester,  Hadleigh,  &c.,  together  with  some  generous-hearted 
Christians  in  Paris  (including  Dr.  Monod  and  others),  also 
several  American  visitors  from  New  York,  who  most  kindly 
aided  us  in  our  meetings,  have  so  far  enabled  us  to  meet  these 
increasing  claims.  Extended  resources  would  enable  us  to 
spread  our  operations  to  other  populous  and  most  destitute 
districts  of  the  vast  city. 

"  A  large  calico  sign  over  each  shop  invites  the  workmen  to 
enter.  AVe  also  distribute  small  bills  of  invitation  in  each 
district,  telling  the  people  that  '  English  friends  wish  to  speak 
to  them  of  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ.'  Some  young  English- 
men, Swedes,  and  Frenchmen  have  greatly  helped  us  at  the 
doors  by  encouraging  suitable  persons  to  come  in.  Warm 
apj)reciation  of  the  kindness  of  these  lielpers  is  often  evidenced. 
Recently  an  old  man  at  Montmartre  said,  on  leaving,  '  I  came 
in  here  the  first  time  because,  from  outside,  I  saw  a  young  lady 
offer  a  hymn-book  to  an  ouvrier  with  a  smile.'  In  each  room 
we  have  an  harmonium.  Most  of  our  hymns  we  have  ourselves 
imitated  from  the  English.  They  are  generously  printed  for 
our  use  by  a  friend  at  Sunderland.  The  cheerful  tunes  evidently 
delig]it  the  people.  They  make  great  efforts  to  sing.  Often  it 
is  touching  to  hear  their  voices  in  such  stanzas  as — 

*  Vive  le  nom  de  Jdsns-Chvist,' 

*Des  paysfroids  et  ddserts,'  &c. 

We  rejoice  to  reflect  that  unconsciously  they  learn  the  words, 
and  so  come  to  have  at  least  some  outlines  of  the  Gospel  im- 
pressed on  the  memory." 

How  to  conduct  such  meetings  must  have  been 
at  first  an  anxious  thought  to  their  originators. 
Much  depended  on  this.      They  must  be  attractive 


Rise  of  the  Work.  45 

and  interesting  as  well  as  instructive.  They  must 
not  be  controversial,  and  yet  they  must  be  evan- 
gelical. Mr.  M'All  has  not  told  us  the  process  by 
which  he  arrived  at  his  permanent  order  and 
arrangement ;  nor  how  he  was  led  to  adopt  some 
of  the  peculiarities  which  distinguish  his  meetings 
from  others.      What  he  tells  us  is  as  follows  : — 

"  The  meetings  are  very  simply  conducted.  On  entering,  a 
magazine,  a  Bible,  or  other  book  is  lent  to  each  attendant. 
The  French  counterpart  of  the  '  British  Workman '  is  a  great 
favourite.  Also  '  L'Ami  de  la  Jeunesse.'  I  wish  extremely 
that  we  had  publications  in  French  fully  corresponding  with 
the  Leisure  Hour  and  Sunday  at  Home.  The  Bible  and  Tract 
Societies,  and  the  other  agencies  for  Scripture  portions  and 
suitable  books,  have  generously  aided  us  by  free  grants.  We 
have  also  a  small  free  lending  library  at  each  station. 

"Most  striking  evidences  of  the  lamentable  ignoraiice  of  the 
Word  of  God  prevalent  in  these  districts  meet  us  from  time  to 
time.  For  example,  more  than  once,  after  borrowing  from  us 
successively  the  New  Testament  and  the  Bible,  an  ouvrier  has 
requested  the  loan  of  '  another  volume  of  the  same  work.'  An 
old  lady,  after  receiving  copies  of  several  of  the  Gospels  at  our 
room,  was  anxious  for  '  the  Gospel  of  St.  Paul '  to  complete 
the  set.  We  often  feel  much  on  seeing  a  man  take  away  on 
loan,  with  evident  delight,  a  Bible  '  for  his  children  to  read,' 
the  first  Bible  ever  seen  in  his  house '! 

"In  the  meetings  we  have  hymns  alternately  with  short 
addresses  or  readings.  Variety  and  brevity  are  aimed  at.  On 
Sundays  something  more  of  the  usual  form  of  a  religious  service 
is  adopted.  We  give  a  short  sermon,  and  the  feature  of  prayer 
is  added.  The  reading  of  the  Bible  is  listened  to  on  all  occa- 
sions with  marked  interest.  Political  allusions  and  rehgious 
controversies  are  wholly  shunned.     We  wish  it  to  be  under- 


L 


46  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

stood  that  we  attack  no  Church  or  system,  that  our  sole  aim  is 
to  direct  our  hearers  to  Christ,  Many  French  pasiteurs  and 
Christians,  besides  those  mentioned,  help  us  from  time  to  time 
(M.  Eobin,  of  Belleville,  M.  Armand  Delille,  M.  Gaubert,  with 
evangelists,  &c.)  Our  friend  and  brother,  the  Kev.  T.  B.  Hart, 
is  always  ready  with  his  kind  aid. 

"  When  English  or  American  friends  visit  us,  if  they  prefer 
to  speak  in  English,  the  people  listen  with  eagerness  while 
each  sentence  is  translated  into  Erench.  These  visits  are  quite 
a  kindness  and  a  real  source  of  strength  to  us.  The  sympathy 
so  manifested  tends  to  awaken  the  people  to  our  earnest  pur- 
pose. During  the  summer  this  has  formed  a  very  pleasing 
feature. 

"  We  feared  at  the  outset  that  when  the  charm  of  novelty 
should  fail,  our  audiences  might  melt  away.  Thus  far  we 
have,  on  the  contrary,  witnessed  a  steady  increase.  The  attend- 
ances were  maintained  throughout  the  sultry  summer. 

"  The  statistics  (corrected  to  November  25th)  are  as  follows : — 


No.  of  sittings  (chairs)  in  the  4  rooms 

French  meetings  held 

Of  which  for  children 

Aggregate  attendance 

Average  for  each  meeting  throughout 

Average  attendance  per  week,  for  some  time 


500 
382 

76 
30,520 

85 
900 


(The  majority  of  attendants  are  men  at  the  adult  meetings, 
boys  at  the  children's  meetings.) 

Books  issued  from  lending  libraries  .  .         524 

Tracts  and  Scripture  portions  distributed    .  .    48,000 

(Exclusive  of  2779  given  during  short  summer  journeys  in 
Normandy  and  in  the  Vosges,  and  in  ten  French  meetings 
held  with  the  people  there.) 

"  In  addition,  22  English  services  have  been  held,  and  130 
books  issued  from  our  little  English  library." 


Rise  of  the  Work.  ^.y 

The  following  is  a  page  of  fragments  well  worth 
the  reading,  as  affording  us  some  glimpses  of  the 
people's  feelings  as  they  went  and  came ;  giving 
out  to  one  another,  or  to  the  workers,  their  casual 
remarks  on  this  strange  novelty  that  had  arisen 
among  them,  and  which  without  difficulty,  and 
almost  without  opposition,  had  found  a  place  in 
a  district  the  unlikeliest  to  have  welcomed  such 
messengers,  and  such  a  message  : — 

"  A  few  candidly  spoken  words  may  reveal  mucli  respecting 
the  contrasted  attitudes  of  different  sections  of  the  populace 
towards  religion.  One  rugged  son  of  toil,  in  answer  to  our 
question — '  Do  you  not  want  a  true  Friend  ? ' — repHed,  '  Non  ; 
je  n'ai  besoin  de  rien.  Pour  moi,  j 'adore  le  soleil.  Ma  religion 
n'est  que  la  religion  du  travail.' 

"  Again,  a  man,  evidently  full  of  himself,  said,  at  the  door, 
*  Religion  is  a  good  thing  for  the  young  and  for  old  people ; 
but  as  for  me,  who  am  in  full  life,  I  have  no  need  of  anything 
of  the  kind.'    A  profound  philosopher,  truly  ! 

"  A  kind-hearted  Roman  Catholic  lady,  a  frequent  attendant, 
had  asked  us  to  her  house.  Her  husband,  a  man  of  wealth, 
received  us  very  kindly,  and  spoke  freely.  He  said,  '  No  man 
cares  to  be  religious  here.  The  priests  have  made  the  way  to 
heaven  so  very  diiiicult  that  no  one  cares  to  go.'  He  added, 
'  Only  the  women  go  to  church.  It  would  be  reckoned  a  dis- 
grace to  one  of  us  if  we  should  enter  such  a  place.' 

"  Turn  to  the  opposite  side.  A  hard- worked  ouvrier  came 
eagerly  to  us,  saying, '  I  want  to  be  taught  religion.  I  do  not 
understand  it.  I  want  to  learn  what  it  is.'  Another  man, 
addressing  a  hesitant  group  of  his  neighbours  at  one  of  our 
doors,  said,  '  I  am  a  Catholic  ;  but  go  you  in.  You  will  hear 
only  the  Gospel  there  ;  and  there  is  nothing  to  pay.' 


48  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  People  are  constantly  telling  us  that  tliey  wish  to  '  change 
their  religion.'  Parents,  especially,  desire  that  their  children 
should  be  '  trained  as  Protestants.'  A  few  days  ago  a  sergent- 
de-ville  requested  me  to  come  to  his  house  and  explain  to  him 
how  he  and  all  his  family  might  learn  our  '  religion ' — meaning 
the  Gospel  in  its  simplicity. 

"  Another  very  pleasing  feature  is  to  find  workmen  inducing 
their  fellow-workmen  to  attend,  and  bringing  them  to  us  to 
borrow  Bibles,  &c. 

"  Various  incidents  seem  to  show  that  our  simple  mode  of 
conducting  the  meetings  is  not  unsuccessful.  An  intelligent 
man  said  to  me,  '  I  like  your  reunions,  because  there  is  no 
mixing  of  politics  with  religion.  I  do  not  say  this  to  flatter  ; 
I  sincerely  feel  it.'  The  utmost  care  is  needed  in  avoiding 
political  allusions.  A  well-to-do  tradesman  said  to  me,  after 
a  meeting,  amidst  a  group  in  the  doorway,  evidently  to  test 
me: — 'Votre  reunion  est  jolie  ;  mais  moi,  je  dis  surtout,  vive 
la  r^publique  ! '  I  replied,  '  Vive  la  liberty  ! '  and  every  one 
seemed  to  be  satisfied. 

"  The  people  are  often,  at  first  much  puzzled  to  understand 
who  and  what  we  are.  They  have  been  heard  whispering  to 
each  other  outside, '  C'est  la  J^suites  !  C'est  un  pretre,  n'est  ce 
pas?'  The  pretty  Scripture  prints  ornamenting  our  rooms, 
supplied  by  the  Sunday  School  Union  and  by  friends,  are 
useful  in  this  respect.  They  form  a  quiet  expression  of  our 
true  position,  being  so  markedly  unlike  the  Eoman  Catholic 
pictures. 

"  One  evening  when  the  congregation  was  dispersing,  a  bour- 
geois came  up,  full  of  self-assertion.  After  questioning  our 
young  English  friend  at  the  door,  he  said, '  Ah,  this  is  all  very 
well  for  the  ouvriers;  it  is  not  the  thing  for  me.'  A  sergent-de- 
ville  on  his  beat,  hearing  this,  addressed  the  bourgeois  : — '  Sir, 
it  is  a  very  good  thing  for  everybody  ;  it  is  a  very  good  thing 
for  Belleville.'  The  policemen  have  been  repeatedly  heard 
recommending  the  bystanders  to  go  in,  assuring  them  that 


Rise  of  the  Work.  49 


they  would  hear  only  what  is  for  their  good.  Many  times  we 
are  cheered  by  the  warm  pressure  of  our  hand  on  leaving,  and 
the  words,  '  Je  vous  remercie  infiniment;  je  reviendrai.'  And 
they  do  return.  Nor  is  it  unusual  to  hear  during  the  meeting, 
after  some  home  truth  has  been  spoken,  such  expressions  as, 
*  C'est  bon,' '  C'est  vrai.' 

"  The  Sunday  before  our  leaving,  a  French  friend  who  helps 
at  our  doors  mentioned  that  the  same  afternoon  two  or  three 
young  men,  who,  on  entering,  e\'idently  intended  to  make  sport, 
had  remained  as  attentive  listeners,  and  that  he  had  recently 
observed  the  same  thing  more  than  once  at  Montmartre. 

"  It  is  amusing  to  observe  the  surprise  of  the  people  when 
assured  that  everything  is  gratuitous.  '■  Do  you  give  all  this 
for  nothing ! '  they  ask.  Some  seem  almost  offended  when  we 
decline  to  take  their  money.  The  other  day,  during  a  dis- 
cussion outside,  after  the  meeting,  whether  we  were  Catholics 
or  Protestants,  several  were  heard  to  say,  *  Never  mind  which 
they  are ;  we  will  come  again,  for  here  all  are  treated  alike ; 
everything  is  free,  and  every  one  is  made  welcome.'  It  is 
something  to  disarm  prejudice  and  elicit  kindly  feeling.  We 
therefore  hail  every  such  token,  as  giving  hope  of  some  higher 
result  afterwards. 

"  We  are  not  left  wholly  without  indications  of  that  higher 
result.  A  widow  and  her  daughter  had  formed  the  dark  and 
terrible  impression  that  there  was  no  God,  because,  they 
reasoned,  if  He  had  existed,  He  could  not  have  allowed  them 
to  be  so  heavily  afflicted.  The  husband  had  perished  in  the 
Commune,  and  nearly  all  the  children  had  died  in  rapid  suc- 
cession. They  refused  to  enter  any  place  of  worship.  Led, 
somehow,  to  one  of  our  rooms,  they  there  learned  to  see  a 
Father's  correcting  love,  where,  before,  only  cruelty  and  ven- 
geance had  appeared ;  and,  we  trust,  have  been  brought  to  a 
heartfelt  reception  of  the  Saviour." 

The  last  extract  which  we  give  from  this  interest- 

£ 


50  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

ing  address  contains  the  writer's  impressions,  on  a 
review  of  the  first  year  of  labour  : — 

"  After  a  year  of  close  observation,  our  first  impression  re- 
specting the  attitude  of  this  vast  populace  towards  religion  is 
confirmed.  In  this  view,  three  groups  may  be  distinguished. 
The  first  consists  of  men  so  steeped  in  atheism  and  self-indulg- 
ence that  they  seem  well-nigh  impervious  to  all  ameliorating 
influences.  The  second  is  composed  of  those  who  have  no 
idea  of  religion,  save  under  the  distorted  shape  of  a  system 
which  they  have  utterly  rejected.  In  meeting  f/iem,  the  first 
and  difficult  task  is  to  awaken  them  to  the  existence  of  life, 
freedom,  love,  where  they  had  supposed  only  exaction,  artifice, 
imposition  to  have  place.  The  third  group  is  that  of  those 
who  are  already  convinced  that  there  is  a  reality  in  religion, 
and  are  in  waiting  posture,  ready  to  welcome  the  life-giving 
message. 

"  In  view  of  the  disposition  to  hear,  evidenced  at  our  four 
unobtrusive  stations,  we  cannot  doubt  that,  were  similar 
arrangements  extended  to  every  district  in  Paris,  attentive 
listeners  would  be  multiplied.  My  excellent  neighbour,  Mon- 
sieur Kobin,  Protestant  pastor  of  Belleville,  says  that  there  is 
room  in  Paris  for  fifty  such  places,  and  for  fifty  missionary 
ministers.  Very  recently,  an  intelligent  workman,  one  of  our 
constant  attendants,  came  to  me,  after  a  meeting  at  Menil- 
montant,  to  express  his  firm  conviction  that  if  a  building  ten 
times  the  size  were  thrown  open  for  Christian  preaching  on  that 
spot,  it  would  be  crowded  with  willing  listeners. 

"  With  what  pain  do  we  feel  our  inability  to  occupy  more 
than  a  corner  of  the  vast  field  !  A  generous-hearted  Liverpool 
merchant,  himself  a  descendant  of  the  Huguenots,  said  to  me 
after  our  meeting  at  Montmartre,  a  few  days  ago — 'Every 
quarter  throughout  Paris  ought  to  have  a  religious  meeting- 
place  for  the  workmen.'  Alive  to  the  impossibility  of  our 
meeting  the  vast  exigency  alone,  he  suggested  that  resources 


Rise  of  the  Work,  51 

and  additional  labourers  might  be  found  in  England,  so  as  to 
secure  '  a  girdle  of  mission-stations  round  the  lohole  city.^  Could 
this  be  effected,  the  warm  co-operation  of  French  pastors  and 
Christian  workers  might  be  relied  on. 

"  It  is  our  fond  hope  that,  on  the  basis  of  our  stations,  per- 
manent Christian  institutions  may  eventually  arise.  If,  in  each 
quarter,  a  plain  but  spacious  building  could  be  secured,  com- 
prising a  large  room  for  meeting  and  services,  a  reading-room, 
and  a  small  lending  library,  who  can  doubt  that  great  blessings 
would  flow  from  it  throughout  its  neighbourhood  ] 

"In  these  arrangements  the  children  ought  not  to  be  lost 
sight  of.  Every  observer  of  the  religious  needs  of  Paris  and 
of  France  must  receive  a  profound  impression  with  reference 
to  its  rising  race.  Our  weekly  juvenile  meetings,  on  the  holi- 
day afternoon,  enabled  us  to  reach,  more  or  less,  about  300. 
In  these  children,  most  of  them  grievously  destitute  of  moral 
home  training,  we  see  that  which  convinces  us,  that  could 
wholesome  teaching  be  spread  everywhere  among  the  French 
children  of  this  generation,  the  nation  would,  under  God's 
blessing,  rise  wp  moralhj  renovated  in  the  next.  In  spite  of  the 
efforts  of  the  dominant  Church  to  monopolise  education,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  a  multitude  of  parents  would  thankfully 
place  their  families  under  such  teaching.  Often,  as  I  remarked, 
they  come  to  us  expressing  the  wish  that  their  children  should 
be  trained  as  Protestants.  Their  meaning  is  not  that  they 
desire  a  sectarian  education,  but  that  they  wish  their  children 
to  imbibe  principles  of  Christian  morality. 

"  It  is  touching  to  hear  these  young  voices  in  the  h;yTims  we 
teach  them,  the  only  words  of  the  kind  some  of  them  are  ever 
taught  !  Parents  (fathers  as  well  as  mothers)  often  come  in, 
pleased  to  listen  while  their  children  sing,  and  answer  Scrip- 
ture questions. 

"  But  the  thought  of  the  tens  of  thousands  of  the  young  in 
Paris  not  brought  under  even  this  modicum  of  influence  is 
overwhelming !     The  Protestant  schools,  though  worked  with 


52  The  White  Fields  of  Frarice. 

intelligent  devotedness,  are  but  thinly  scattered,  and  leave 
many  populous  quarters  untouched  by  such  agencies. 

"  Such,  brethren,  is  our  essay,  to  which,  after  two  or  three 
days,  we  hope  to  return,  and  enter  on  the  long  winter  campaign. 
"Will  you  not  attend  us,  throughout  it,  with  your  prayerful 
sympathy?  The  assurance  that  we  are  thus  remembered  in 
our  own  land  is  unspeakably  helpful. 

"  If  we  may  be  blessed  in  conveying  to  even  a  few  of  those 
who  were  ^sitting  in  the  shadow  of  death'  the  light  and  love 
which  shall  render  them  as  leaven  to  the  mass  around,  what  is 
any  small  personal  sacrifice  or  hardship,  in  the  balance  !  To 
be  permitted  even  to  make,  the  attempt  in  our  Lord's  name  is  a 
sacred  privilege.  Ask,  then,  for  us,  that  we  may,  during  the 
winter,  not  only  see  interested  listeners  around  us,  but  hear 
from  many  the  inquiry  after  eternal  life.  Ask,  too,  that  other 
hearts  may  be  stirred,  and  the  way  of  other  labourers  made 
plain,  who  shall  come  over  and  strengthen  our  hands.  Ask, 
for  us,  wisdom,  patience,  courage,  strength  of  every  kind,  that 
we  may  use  our  privilege  rightly,  to  the  glory  of  Him  in  whose 
name  we  go  forth !  " 

We  have  given,  piece  by  piece,  the  whole  of  this 
statement,  not  only  because  of  its  great  importance, 
as  the  first  intimation  to  the  public  of  what  was 
going  on,  but  because  in  a  work  like  this,  it  is  both 
interesting  and  satisfactory  to  discover  the  begin- 
nings, however  small,  and  to  watch  the  gradual,  or 
rather  the  rapid  rise,  of  this  mighty  enterprise,  which 
the  Churches  of  Great  Britain  are  only  beginning 
to  appreciate. 

The  report  announces  the  opening  of  the  Belle- 
ville   station    in    January,    1872;     of  the   M^nil- 


Rise  of  the  Work.  53 

montant  station  in  the  following  February  ;  and  of 
two  others,  Montmartre  and  Faubourg  St.  Antoine, 
in  the  April  of  the  same  year.  "  In  our  four  rooms," 
it  says,  "we  have  515  sittings."  The  last  report 
(1878)  gives  5192  sittings  !  The  first  report  gives 
the  aggregate  attendance  for  the  year  at  37,957, 
the  last  at  421,370.  The  first  gives  the  number  of 
French  meetings  during  the  year  at  ^h^,  the  last 
at  2788. 

It  is  interesting  thus  to  compare  the  first  year 
with  the  last;  to  mark  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
work  and  the  enlarging  of  the  circle ;  and  to  trace 
back  to  the  Belleville  station,  in  the  Rue  Julien 
Lacroix,  with  its  108  sittings,  the  small  fountain- 
head  of  this  great  Mission.  "^^ 

The  French  pastors  early  united  with  Mr.  M'All, 
and  threw  themselves  into  the  work.  Dr.  Fisch, 
M.  Theodore  Monod,  M.  Kobin,  and  others,  gave 
important  help.  Several  laymen  did  the  same. 
And  it  is  evident  that  the  ultimate  success  of  the 
Mission  will  depend  greatly  on  the  native  workers, 
whether  pastors  or    laymen.      A  native   agency  is 

*  At  Montmartre  and  Belleville  a  new  expedient  was  attempted. 
Two  tea-meetings  were  held ;  the  first  for  English  friends,  the 
second  for  the  French  people  at  Belleville,  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
opening  of  the  station  there.  The  innovation  on  French  customs 
was  most  successful  and  pleasant.  At  the  English  gathering  three 
or  four  intelligent  men  got  up  to  thank  Mr.  M'All  for  having  come 
to  them. 


54  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

specially  to  be  desired  and  aimed  at.  Foreigners 
may  do  something ;  but  ultimately  the  French 
Christians  must  take  up  the  work,  if  it  is  to  be 
permanent  and  aggressive ;  if  it  is  to  permeate,  not 
only  Paris,  but  the  cities  and  villages  of  France. 
Frencli  liberality  must  also  be  stimulated.  The 
pecuniary  burden  must  devolve  on  French  shoulders. 
Not  that  we  grudge  English  gold.  It  is  a  noble 
position  for  a  nation  to  occupy, — to  stretch  out  a 
helping  hand  to  all  nations  of  the  earth  ;  which 
Great  Britain,  in  the  midst  of  all  her  sin  and  selfish- 
ness, at  this  day  is  doing.  It  is  no  common  honour 
that  God  has  put  upon  us  to  make  England  the 
religious  metropolis  of  the  world,  so  that  from  us  go 
forth  not  only  tracts  and  books  and  Bibles  in  all 
languages,  but  missionaries  of  the  cross  to  every 
nation.  In  the  Continental  wars  of  the  earlier  part 
of  this  century,  England  was  described  as 

"...  The  fond  ally, 
That  fights  for  all  .  .  .  ." 

And,  perhaps,  when  it  was  added — 

"  But  ever  fights  in  vain," 

there  was  truth  in  the  sarcasm.  In  England's 
better  warfare  of  the  last  fifty  years,  there  has  been 
a  truer  and  a  holier  *'  fighting  for  all,"  the  issues  of 
which  have  been  life  and  not  death  ; — victories  over 


Rise  of  the  Work,  55 

all  the  earth,  which  the  world  neither  applauds  nor 
chronicles,  but  which  are  not  the  less  on  that  account 
blessed  and  glorious.  In  these  battles  she  does 
not  "  fight  in  vain."  In  the  former  warfare  she 
lavished  millions  without  grudging,  and  shed  blood 
without  scruple,  in  behalf  of  one  and  another  and 
another  kingdom.  And,  doubtless,  she  achieved 
something  for  earthly  liberty  and  order.  But  the 
cost  was  great.  In  the  latter  warfare,  against  dark- 
ness and  sin,  with  no  carnal  weapons,  but  seeking 
only  to  bring  the  prisoners  out  of  their  prison-house, 
and  to  give  light  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness,  she 
need  not  grudge  her  gold  ;  she  need  not  shrink 
from  bloodless  triumphs,  the  triumphs  of  peace  and 
holiness.  Let  all  the  world  know  that  there  is  a 
nation  whom  God  delights  to  honour  ;  and  whom  He 
honours  by  making  use  of  her  gold  and  her  power,  to 
transmit  His  Book,  and  the  Gospel  which  that  Book 
contains,  to  all  kindreds  of  the  earth. 

But  there  is  a  limit  to  this.  This  small  island, 
with  its  thousand  responsibilities  and  burdens,  can- 
not draw  inimitably  upon  its  resources.  The  nations 
whom  she  helps  must  help  themselves.  We  cannot 
continue  subsidising  the  whole  world ;  not  because 
we  grudge  it,  but  because  there  are  limits  to  our 
exchequer,  and  our  own  people  have  claims  upon  us, 
even  superior  to  the  whole  Continent  together. 


56  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

France  especially  is  now  a  prosperous  nation. 
The  hoarded  gains  of  her  population  in  all  her  towns 
and  villages,  which  were  lying  useless,  perhaps  in 
chest  or  cupboard,  w^ere  drawn  out  by  the  Prussian 
demand  for  the  late  war-indemnity,  and  are  now 
bearing  interest  of  five  per  cent,  or  more,  to  their 
owners ;  so  that  her  citizens,  and,  not  least,  her 
peasantry,  have  become  much  richer  than  before  ; 
their  incomes  increased  and  made  permanent  and 
unfluctuating.  As  a  prosperous  community,  we  may 
now  appeal  to  her  to  help  herself.  We  cannot  do 
everything  for  her.  She  must  step  forward  herself 
both  with  the  money  and  the  men. 

If  the  breath  of  a  new  life  has  gone  over  France 
this  will  not  be  long  of  being  done."'^      The  same 

*  "  France,  beyond  all  doubt,  is  labouring  to  detach  herself  from 
Roman  Catholicism,  whether  this  is  to  be  done  gradually  or  at  once. 
The  last  elections  turned  out  against  clericalism,  and  as  Roman 
Catholicism  among  us  will  not  separate  her  cause  from  that  of 
Ultramontanism,  one  may  say  that  the  elections  struck  a  blow  at 
Roman  Catholicism.  It  is  enough  to  listen  to  the  lamentations  of 
the  clerical  papers,  to  the  complaints  of  the  Abbe  Bougaud,  Vicar- 
General  of  Orleans,  about  the  daily  increasing  difficulty  of  recruiting 
the  priestly  ranks,  to  the  despairing  appeals  for  Peter's  pence,  and 
for  the  furtherance  of  other  Catholic  contrivances  ;  it  is  enough,  on 
the  other  hand,  to  see  the  churches  deserted  in  three  quarters  of  the 
provinces,  and  the  increasing  number  of  civil  interments — to  under- 
stand the  reality  of  the  rupture,  daily  widening  into  a  divorce,  that 
has  taken  place  between  the  Romish  Church  and  the  populations  of 
France.  Is  it  hard  to  explain  this  rupture — this  divorce  ?  We  do  not 
need  to  speak  of  the  new  dogmas  of  her  own  invention  that  Romanism 
has  thought  proper  to  proclaim,  as  if  to  do  her  upmost  to  deepen  the 


Rise  of  the  Work.  57 

mighty  spirit,  that  has  been  quickening  the  dead,  can 
raise  up  an  apostolic  ministry.  The  Bartholomew 
massacre  slew  100,000  of  her  best  and  noblest ;  but 
now  out  of  their  ashes  is  arising  another  host  to  do 
the  work  which  they  expected  to  do.  If  the  land 
of  Coligny  is  true  to  herself  she  will  rise  to  the 
responsibility  of  the  crisis.  Native  evangelists  and 
pastors  will  be  sent  forth  to  carry  out  a  mission  for 
t)ie  whole  of  France,  which  no  foreigner  can  under- 
take. The  present  work  has  been  begun  by  the 
English  stranger;  but  unless  the  stimulus  which  it 
is  giving  to  the  Protestants  of  the  land  issue  in 
some  large,  noble, — shall  I  say,  daring, — enter- 
prise, for  the  evangelisation  of  their  fellow-country- 
men, the  M'All  Mission  will  not  have  fully  served 
its  end,  nor  accomplished  the  aspirations  of  its 
founder. 

It  may  be  true  that  the  present  rulers  of  France 
are  of  foreign   origin,  and  that  the  French  do  not 

gulf  between  the  blind  faith  that  she  requires  from  her  followers  and 
the  scepticism  of  the  century.  We  do  not  need  to  speak  of  the  new 
and  unusual  phase  of  pilgrimages,  or  of  Catholic  Clubs,  or  of  the 
materialistic  and  pagan  devotions  to  the  Sacrt^-Coeur,  to  our  Lady  of 
Lourdes  or  of  La  Salette.  Nor  need  we  refer  to  the  contrast, 
always  offensive,  between  the  doctrines  of  Christ  and  the  practices  of 
Popery — between  the  simplicity  and  humility  which  the  Gospel 
teaches  and  the  pomp  and  parade  of  our  prelates,  some  of  whom  will 
only  enter  their  episcopal  cities  when  announced  by  the  noise  of 
cannon,  and  preceded  by  a  military  cm^Urje  ;  unlike  the  Son  of  David, 
who  entered  Jeriisalem  riding  on  an  ass." — M.  Reveillaud. 


58  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

object  to  foreign  help.  The  Prime  Minister  is  Eng- 
lish, the  President  of  the  Chambers  Italian,  several 
of  the  Government  officials  are,  by  descent  at  least, 
foreigners,  so  that  France  is  governed  by  "■  exotic 
Frenchmen,"  or  rather,  by  nationalised  foreigners. 
To  this  the  nation  assents.  But,  then,  all  these  have 
been  fused  by  education  and  long  residence  into 
French  ways  and  sympathies.  No  difference  comes 
to  the  surface.  But  it  will  take  years  before  the 
like  fusion  or  naturalisation  can  take  place  in  the 
present  mission,  and  the  ungospelised  millions  of 
the  land  cannot  afford  to  wait.  The  white  fields 
demand  immediate  reaping;  and  the  present 
labourers  are  quite  inadequate  to  the  task,  both  in 
numbers  and  in  fitness  :  and  He  who  has  so  unex- 
pectedly ripened  the  harvest  can  alone  provide  the 
reapers.  As  in  the  first  century  the  fields  of  Europe 
and  Asia  ripened,  and  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  sent 
forth  His  apostolic  band  of  labourers  into  Greece  and 
Italy  to  cut  down  the  corn-fields  of  Corinth,  and 
Thessalonica,  and  Galatia,  and  Rome, — of  Antioch, 
and  Ephesus,  and  Colosse ;  so  may  we  expect  that 
experienced  sickles  are  now  preparing  for  the  fields 
of  France.  Only  this  singular  honour  has  been 
conferred  on  England,  to  lead  the  way,  and  by  her 
self-denying  zeal  to  stimulate  the  energies  of  the 
Christians   of  the   French   fatherland.      Instead  of 


Rise  of  the  Work,  59 

the  imperfect  sickles  wielded  by  foreign  hands,  He 
will  provide  implements  more  efficacious  and  more 
successful."^'* 

There  are  wealthy  Protestants  in  France;  let 
them  consecrate  their  abundance  to  God,  and  not 
waste  it  on  themselves. 

Meanwhile  it  is  no  common  privilege  thus  to  help 
a  neighbour,  and  to  communicate  of  our  plenty 
to  a  people  to  whom  we  have  so  many  ties  of  in- 
terest and  sympathy ;  yet  with  whom  we  have  been 
so  often  at  war. 

*  Yet  let  us  not  forget  the  following  striking  incident  and  testi- 
mony : — 

*'  During  the  period  of  the  meetings  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance 
in  London,  in  1851,  one  speaker  was  recommending  the  Foreign 
Aid  Society,  on  the  ground  that  it  only  employed  French 
and  Swiss  preachers,  and  did  not  send  out  Englishmen,  when 
Dr.  Merle  d'Aubigne  rose  and  said,  that  he  for  one  could  not 
accept  this  as  a  recommendation  ;  for  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
grace  of  God  in  ordering  the  mission  of  the  venerable  Eobert 
Haldane  from  Scotland,  I  myself,  so  far  as  man  can  see,  would  not 
have  been  here  to-day." — "Lives  of  the  Haldanes,"  p,  471. 


6o  The  White  Fields  of  France. 


CHAPTER  III. 

PROGRESS  AND  EXPANSION. 

"J^5^7'JE  come  now  to  the  first  regular  report  issued 
XS^      by  ^^-  M'All,  from  which  we  mean  largely 
to  borrow,  for  the  same  reasons  for  which  we  drew 
so  unsparingly  on  his  Congregational  address. 

It  is  headed,  "  Mission  to  the  Working  Men  of 
Paris;  Report  for  fourteen  months,  November,  1871, 
to  January,  1873."  We  confess  to  the  great  interest 
we  ourselves  have  felt  in  perusing  this  report. 
Subsequent  reports  contain,  of  course,  more  infor- 
mation, and  deal  more  in  incident  and  detail;  but 
this,  as  the  authentic  and  official  narrative  of  the 
origin  and  development  of  the  work,  has  special 
interest  for  all  who  love  to  trace  a  great  and  success- 
ful undertaking  to  its  first  beginnings.  One  likes, 
not  merely  in  the  spirit  of  poetry  or  sentiment,  but 
as  an  interesting  piece  of  geography,  to  go  back 
along  a  river's  banks,  and  to  stand  in  the  quiet 
upland  glen  where  it  first  arose. 


Progress  and  Expansion.  6  r 

To  this  report  the  late  Dr.  Binney,  of  London, 
wrote  an  introductory  note,  giving  his  own  impres- 
sions, which  are  worth  preserving: — "I  can  hardly 
say  that  I  was  requested  to  write  these  few  lines ; 
the  more  correct  statement,  perhaps,  would  be  that 
I  offered  to  write  them,  for  such  is  my  appreciation 
of  the  disinterested  zeal  and  laborious  self-denial  of 
my  dear  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'All,  and  such  my 
interest  in  their  work,  that  I  felt  moved  to  help,  in 
any  way  in  my  power,  what  they  had  undertaken. 
It  is  no  doubt  a  somewhat  singular  form  of  benevolent 
agency, — this  sitting  down  of  two  English  people  in 
one  of  the  less  attractive  districts  of  Paris,  in  order 
to  labour  gratuitously  for  the  religious  benefit  of  the 
working  class.  The  very  idea  of  the  thing  will  to 
some  seem  strange  and  Quixotic,  and  may  be  re- 
garded as  something  which  will  turn  out  to  be 
wanting  in  depth  and  permanence." 

This  is  just  the  very  thought  that  must  have 
occurred  to  many  at  the  time,  perhaps  even  to  the 
originators  themselves,  trying  their  faith,  and  it 
may  be  burdening  their  spirits.  Alone  in  a  land  of 
strangers,  face  to  face  with  the  great  Parisian  mass 
of  human  wickedness,  with  no  organisation  to  assist, 
and  no  society  to  fall  back  upon,  they  could  not  but 
sometimes  ask  themselves  why  they  had  ventured 
on  such  an  enterprise,  and  whether  a  work  begun 


62  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

with  such  very  slender  appliances  was  likely  to  last, 
or  to  make  any  permanent  impression  on  that  city 
of  atheism  and  Popery  and  pleasure. 

''However  this  may  be,"  Dr.  Binney  adds,  "in 
respect  to  the  scheme  itself,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted 
that,  in  individual  minds,  iTYipressions  will  he  made 
which,  though  the  machinery  tuere  to  vanish  to- 
TYiorrow,  will  be  lasting  as  eternity,  and  have  in- 
estimable results,  immediate  and  remote,  in  time." 

We  have  italicised  a  few  words  in  the  above 
sentence,  which  seem  specially  worthy  of  attention. 
Were  nothing  more  to  come  out  of  this  work  than 
what  this  first  report  records,  and  had  it  ceased 
after  only  a  year's  existence,  it  would  not  have  been 
in  vain  for  Paris  and  for  France. 

When  we  remember  that  the  following  sentence 
was  written  within  little  more  than  a  year  after  the 
mission  had  been  set  on  foot,  and  before  it  had 
reached  anything  like  the  dimensions  to  which  it 
has  now  come,  we  shall  be  inclined  to  ask,  if  Dr. 
Binney  spoke  thus  at  a  time  when  there  were  but 
few  stations,  what  would  he  have  written  had  he 
lived  to  see  the  twenty-three  ? 

"  It  is  wonderful,"  he  writes,  "  to  us  how  much 
our  friends  have  done,  in  the  number  of  stations 
established  and  services  sustained;  it  is  obvious  that 
the  work  must  demand  much  thought  and  incessant 


Progress  and  Expansion.  63 

labour;  and  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  that  what 
was  begun  in  faith,  and  is  carried  on  with  prayer 
and  painstaking,  will,  through  the  Divine  bless- 
ing, be  followed  by  some  encouraging  measure  of 
success." 

His  concluding  sentence  deserves  special  notice. 
It  speaks  to  the  Churches  of  Great  Britain.  It  is 
a  call  for  workers;  a  summons  to  Christian  men 
and  women.  It  has  been  in  some  measure  responded 
to,  but  the  increasing  necessities  of  the  case,  and 
the  widening  of  the  field,  demand  a  much  larger 
response.  He  asks  for  labourers, — the  right  men 
and  the  right  women  to  do  the  work  of  God  in 
Paris.  "■  Who  will  go  for  us  ?  "  is  his  question.  He 
did  not  live  to  see  the  largeness  of  the  answer  given. 
We  see  it  to-day.  Yet  we  still  call  for  more.  The 
100,000  of  Belleville  alone  would  require  at  least 
fifty  labourers;  how  many  shall  we  ask  for  the 
2,000,000  of  the  whole  city? 

"  If  another  English  couple,  like-minded  with  our 
friends,  and  able  to  devote  themselves  to  such  a 
work,  were  to  become  colleagues  and  coadjutors  in 
the  Mission,  it  would  both  lighten  labour  and  increase 
it,  by  cheering  our  friends,  sharing  their  toil,  and 
giving  vigour  and  variety  to  existing  or  projecting 
forms  of  service.  In  the  meantime,  that  this  sin- 
gularly interesting  w^ork  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'All  may 


64  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

be  strengthened  and  sustained,  it  is  hereby  heartily 
commended  to  the  loving  prayers  and  liberal  con- 
tributions of  the  English  friends  into  whose  hands 
these  words  may  come." 

We  think  it  important  to  preserve  such  an  early 
testimony  as  this  to  the  excellency  of  the  work,  both 
because  it  is  interesting  in  itself,  and  because  our 
narrative  will  show,  as  it  proceeds,  how  fully  the 
opinion  of  the  writer  has  been  justified  and  borne 
out  by  the  subsequent  history  of  the  Mission. 

We  come  now  to  the  report  itself,  which,  exclusive 
of  accounts  and  subscription  lists,  consists  of  only 
seven  pages.  Yet  upon  these  seven  pages  we  dwell 
with  even  greater  interest  than  upon  the  more 
extended  reports  of  subsequent  years.  This  first 
report  (1872),  with  its  seven  pages,  chronicles  four 
stations,  with  the  prospect  of  a  fifth ;  the  second 
(1873),  consisting  of  ten  pages,  sets  down  eight 
stations;  the  third  (1874),  with  its  fifteen  pages, 
registers  eleven  stations;  i\iQ  fourth  (1875),  with 
its  seventeen  pages,  gives  us  a  list  of  seventeen 
stations;  the  fifth  (1876),  with  its  twenty- three 
pages,  records  nineteen  stations  ;  the  sixth  (1877), 
with  its  thirty-eight  pages,  tells  us  of  twenty-two 
stations;  the  seventh  (1878)  and  last,  with  its  thirty- 
six  pages,  numbers  twenty-two  stations,  though  more 
properly  they  are  twenty-three. 


Progress  and  Expansion.  65 

In  some  of  the  quotations'"  which  follow  the  reader 
may  notice  a  slight  repetition  of  some  of  the  early- 
facts,  which  he  will  easily  know  how  to  excuse. 
This  could  hardly  be  avoided  without  mutilating 
the  extracts,  which  we  are  unwilling  to  do  : — 

"  Two  montlis  after  our  arrival  in  Paris  were  spent  in  anxious 
and  laborious  preparation  for  our  work.  Locahties  had  to  be 
sought  out,  the  sanction  of  the  municipal  authorities  obtained, 
and  the  meeting-rooms  furnished  and  made  ready.  Our  first 
meeting  was  held  in  our  Belleville  room  on  Wednesdav  even- 


*  We  give,  in  a  note,  the  following  statement  as  to  a  peculiar 
feature  of  the  work  : — "The  development  of  the  work  has  called 
for  several  new  features.  At  three  stations  we  have  recently  formed 
classes  for  teaching  English  to  the  workmen — a  method  which 
appears  to  promise  well  for  securing  their  confidence  in  our  friend- 
ship. At  two  stations  we  have  just  organised  French  Sunday 
schools.  Could  we  obtain  additional  helpers,  we  should  rejoice  to 
extend  these  arrangements  to  all  the  districts.  As  we  come  to  know 
the  people  more,  the  requirements  in  visitation,  &c.,  constantly 
increase.  We  are  seeking  to  engage  part  of  the  time  of  an  excellent 
Christian  friend,  a  man  of  experience,  to  aid  us  especially  in  this 
department.  In  addition,  would  that  some  brother  in  the  ministry, 
with  his  wife,  could  come  out  and  join  us. 

"  On  opening  our  Montmartre  station,  we  found  ourselves  amidst 
a,  little  colony  of  intelligent  English  workmen,  who  requested  that 
a  meeting  should  also  be  held  for  them.  With  this  desire  we  gladly 
comphed,  and  have,  since  April  last,  conducted  a  Sunday  afternoon 
English  service  there,  together  with  an  English  Lending  Library. 
The  pressure  of  French  work  now  leads  us  thankfully  to  confide  the 
chief  charge  of  this  section  to  our  friend  and  brother,  the  Rev.  T. 
Baron  Hart.  Having  had  to  reHnquish  two  out-stations  at  the  time 
of  the  siege,  he  is  able  to  undertake  two  meetings  weekly,  and  has 
also  just  now  succeeded  in  forming  a  small  English  Sunday  school. 
The  work  will,  however,  still  depend  upon  our  Mission  Fund  for  its 
support  as  before." 

F 


66  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

ing,  17th  January,  1872.  Twelve  months  of  unbroken  effort 
being  completed,  -we  wish  to  lay  before  the  numerous  friends 
who  have  spontaneously  enabled  us  to  meet  the  necessary 
outlay  a  statement  of  the  mode  in  which  their  contributions 
have  been  employed. 

"  Before  entering  on  financial  details,  a  few  words  may  be 
offered  on  the  effort  in  itseK.  The  general  features  of  its  origin 
and  history  are  contained  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Congre- 
gational Union  of  England  and  Wales  at  Nottingham,  in 
October  last,  kindly  inserted  by  our  esteemed  friend,  the  Rev. 
R.  Ashton,  in  the  Congregational  Year-Book  for  1873.  Not- 
withstanding the  entirely  unsectarian  character  of  our  under- 
taking, we  gladly  made  that  statement,  in  response  to  the 
invitation  of  the  Committee  of  the  Union,  conveyed  by  the 
Rev.  A.  Hannay,  desiring  to  elicit  the  praj'erful  sympathy  of 
our  brethren. 

"  For  the  information  of  those  friends  into  whose  hands  the 
Year-Book  may  not  fall,  it  may  be  well  to  present  a  sketch  of 
the  enterprise  from  its  commencement. 

"During  a  brief  smnmer  holiday  in  1871,  Mrs.  M.  and  I 
made  a  first  visit  to  Paris.  No  thought  was  more  remote  than 
that  of  quitting  friends  and  country  in  order  to  become  workers 
in  France.  Such,  however,  was  the  impression  produced  on 
our  mind  by  the  eagerness  with  which  the  tracts  we  offered 
were  received,  and  by  the  earnest  words  of  an  intelligent  work- 
man, who,  standing  amidst  a  large  group  of  his  comrades  in  the 
heart  of  Belleville,  assured  us  that  many  of  them  were  ready 
for  the  teachings  of  a  free  and  pure  religion,  that  we  were  led 
to  most  anxious  thought  on  the  possibility  of  a  Christian  enter- 
prise in  those  neglected  districts,  so  recently  the  scene  of  dire 
calamities. 

"  After  consultation  with  experienced  Christian  labourers  in 
Paris,  especially  with  Dr.  Fisch,  we  deemed  it  our  duty  to  leave 
our  kind  friends  at  Hadleigh,  and,  girding  on  the  missionary 
harness,  to  fix  our  residence  in  Belleville,  among  the  workmen. 


Progress  and  Expajision.  67 

We  resolved  to  endeavour  to  open  niis^^ion-rooms,  and  to  m\dte 
to  tliem  the  workmen  and  their  families.  The  fact  that  those 
we  specially  desired  to  influence  were  wholly  unused  to  attend- 
ance on  religious  ser\T.ces,  suggested  the  idea  of  meetings  in 
which  there  should  be  no  lengthened  speaking,  but  a  number 
of  short,  pointed  readings  or  addresses,  varied  by  the  singing  of 
hymns,  and,  as  soon  as  the  people  might  seem  prepared  for  it,  the 
off'ering  of  prayer.  The  reading  of  the  Bible  would,  we  felt,  form 
an  interesting  feature  ;  that  book  having,  sad  to  say,  for  multi- 
tudes here  the  charm  of  absolute  novelty  !  To  those  arrange- 
ments we  proposed  to  add  the  jDrovision  of  illustrated  maga- 
zines, such  as  '  L'Ouvrier  Frangais,'  and  of  other  periodicals, 
so  that  all  entering  our  rooms  might  iDe  invited  to  read  until 
the  meeting  should  commence.  We  also  proposed  to  open  a 
Lending  Library,  for  the  issue  of  Bibles  and  New  Testaments, 
and  other  good  books,  at  each  station.  The  excellent  society 
at  Toulouse  enabled  us  to  form  these  libraries.  These,  with 
the  distrilnition  of  tracts  and  of  Scripture  portions  at  the  doors 
of  our  rooms,  formed  the  chief  features  of  our  plan. 

"  We  are  thankful  to  state  that,  in  carrying  it  into  eff'ect,  we 
have  been  greatly  encouraged.  Such  an  attempt,  put  forth  in 
such  districts,  could  not  fail  to  involve  many  difficulties  and 
trials.  At  Montmartre,  the  opening  of  our  room  in  April  last 
was  the  signal  for  determined  and  bitter  opposition  on  the  part 
of  the  atheists  of  the  district.  Each  Monday  evening  represent- 
atives of  that  party  attending  for  the  purpose  of  disputing  all 
our  statements.  The  newspaper  press-  was  also  brought  into 
requisition  to  '  write  us  down.'  We  deemed  it  best  to  allow 
questions,  and  these,  with  the  aid  of  Messrs.  Theodore  Monod, 
Leuzinger,  and  others,  were  answered.  After  the  last  of  these 
bitter  cavils  had  been  met,  it  was  delightful  to  hear  the  favourite 
French  hymn,  sung  with  voice  and  heart  in  tlie  crowded  room, 
Qu'ils  sont  beaux  sur  les  montagnes,  '  How  beautiful  upon  the 
mountains,'  &c.  Ever  since,  the  full  attendance  and  marked 
attention  on  these  Monday  evenings  have  been  most  cheering. 


68  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

So  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  since  tlie  formation  of  the  fine  new 
Boulevard  Ornano,  no  religious  meeting  of  any  description  had 
been  attempted  within  its  precincts  until  the  opening  of  our 
room.  We  account  it  an  unspeakable  honour  to  have  been  the 
first  to  endeavour  to  plant  there  the  standard  of  Divine  truth 
and  love. 

"  The  marked  fondness  of  the  people  (the  men  especially) 
for  the  hymns  we  have  imitated  for  them  from  the  English  is 
worthy  of  mention.  They  evidently  take  great  pleasure  in 
learning  to  sing  them  with  us  to  the  cheerful  tunes  familiar  in 
England,  but  entirely  new  to  them.  To  a  valued  friend  at 
Sunderland  we  are  deeply  indebted  for  gratuitously  printing 
1000  copies  of  more  than  forty  of  these  hymns.  The  words 
becoming  imprinted  on  the  memory,  it  is  not  too  much  to  hope 
that  these  germs  of  heavenly  truth  may  spring  into  life  even 
after  many  years. 

"  When  we  were  about  to  open  our  earliest  stations,  it  was 
even  the  opinion  of  the  municipal  authorities  in  several  of  the 
quarters  that,  in  consequence  of  the  prevailing  disposition  to 
mock  at  religion,  we  should  be  unable  to  proceed.  Those  who 
entertained  these  fears  have  since  congratulated  us  on  the 
moralising  tendency  of  the  meetings.  Members  of  the  police 
force,  especially,  have  repeatedly  borne  this  testimony.  They 
have  everywhere  shown  themselves  friendly  to  our  object.  We 
had  the  pleasure  of  presenting  the  '  Almanach  des  Publications 
Populaires '  to  each  man  in  the  Belleville  force,  eighty-one  in 
number,  as  a  small  New- Year's  recognition  of  their  civility  in 
preserving  us  from  interruption  throughout  the  year.  They 
decline  to  receive  money,  but  are  delighted  with  our  books  and 
pictures.  Great  politeness  has  been  observed  towards  us  by 
the  civic  authorities  ;  but  the  utmost  care  is  required  to  avoid 
every  j)olitical  allusion  and  all  religious  controversy  in  our 
meetings,  the  terms  of  our  authorisation  expressly  forbidding 
both. 

"  Many  who  have  visited  us  have  been  surprised  on  witness- 


Progress  and  Expansion.  69 

ing  the  respectful  attention  of  those  whom  they  had  supposed 
to  be  inaccessible  to  any  such  influence.  It  is  a  pleasing  sight 
to  look  round  on  the  group,  often  densely  packed,  of  ouvriers 
in,  their  blouses,  with  their  wives  and  children  ;  to  observe 
their  eager  listening  to  some  incident  or  illustration  pointing 
to  the  vital  truth  and  the  almighty  Saviour.  Still  more,'their 
cordial  shake  of  the  hand,  and  kind  expressions  of  thanks,  at 
the  close  of  the  meetings,  often  revive  our  hearts  and  lighten 
our  toil.  Would  that  we  could  rejoice  over  many  as  fully 
devoted  to  Jesus  !  There  are  a  few  respecting  whom  this  joy 
is  allowed  us.  Many  others,  at  each  of  the  stations,  have 
become  constant  attendants.  Vv^e  ask  the  fervent  prayer  of 
Christians  at  home  that  many  may  indeed  be  '  brought  out  of 
darkness  into  marvellous  light.'  Meanwhile,  we  feel  that  even 
to  gain  the  ear  of  numbers  for  the  Gospel  is  a  result  over  which 
we  have  reason  to  rejoice. 

"  Our  mission  rooms  are  all  shojjs,  which  we  have  to  rent 
wholly  for  the  purpose.  These,  being  situated  on  public 
thoroughfares,  attract  the  notice  of  passers-by.  Some  of  our 
kind  helpers  always  stand  at  the  doors,  inviting  the  people  to 
come  in.  At  each  station,  from  its  opening,  we  have  held,  with 
unbroken  regularity,  two  meetings  weekly,  one  on  the  Sunday, 
one  on  a  week-night,  besides  two  weekly  meetings  for  children, 
on  their  holiday  afternoon,  which  are  also  largely  attended. 
We  have  been  enabled  to  carry  out  the  whole  of  our  arrange- 
ments amidst  wintry  cold  and  summer  heat ;  and  it  is  a  grati- 
fying fact  that  not  on  a  single  occasion  have  we  been  without 
an  audience." 

But  the  most  important  part  of  the  report 
remains  to  be  cited.  We  have  seen  something  of 
the  Mission  in  its  external  appHances ;  let  us  learn 
something  of  its  workings  and  results.  Mr.  M'All 
thus  writes  : — 


70  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  We  frequently  hear  expressions  which  evidence  that  the 
view  of  religion  as  an  affair  of  the  heart  and  life  is  absolutely 
new  to  the  thought  of  many  around  us.  A  remarkably  intel- 
ligent young  man,  now  a  constant  attendant,  said,  only  a  few 
days  ago,  '  I  have  been  reading  carefully  the  little  Evangiles 
(Scripture  portions)  you  have  given  me,  and  I  find  in  them  a 
religion,  not  of  buying  and  selling,  not  of  forms  and  absolu- 
tions, but  "  la  vraie  morale,"  something  which  goes  to  our  heart 
and  life  ;  and  I  approve  it.'  The  men  are  especially  interested 
in  the  recital  of  examples  of  moral  courage,  self-denial,  patience, 
&c.  An  English  workman,  who  attends  many  of  our  French 
meetings,  tells  us  that  he  often  hears  them  say  at  the  close, 
referring  to  such  recitals, '  Ah  !  c'est  gentil  ga.  lis  sont  bons, 
ces  anglais  :  C'est  la  liberte,  I'egalit^,  la  fraternity.'  These 
favourite  words  are  used  by  them  with  reference  to  our  receiv- 
ing no  payment,  and  to  the  fact  that  all  who  come  are  treated 
alike. 

"  Again  and  again  they  will  say  to  us,  '  Vous  vous  donnez 
beaucoup  de  peine  pour  nous  :  nous  en  devons  etre  bien  recon- 
naissants.'  A  few  evenings  ago,  after  we  had  taught  an  English 
class  of  sixty  persons  or  more  at  our  new  station  Faubourg  St. 
Antoine,  a  most  respectable  ouvrier,  a  constant  attendant,  stood 
forward  amidst  them  all,  and  said  to  me,  '  I  wish  to  thank  you 
and  maclame  very  much  for  all  the  pains  you  take  on  our  behalf 
here  ;  and  we  hope  that  great  good  will  be  the  result.'  Bright 
looks  and  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand  all  round  seemed  to  assure 
us  that  this  ouvrier  spoke  the  general  sentiment. 

"  We  are  tempted  to  record  the  heart-cheering  words  with 
which  an  intelligent  medical  man,  a  Swedenborgian,  who  has 
himself  laboured  much  to  lead  the  ouvrier s  towards  religion  by 
the  aid  of  scientific  inquiries,  received  us  to  his  house — '  Je 
desire  vous  faire  un  bon  accueil  dans  ma  maison  si  humble  ; 
vous  qui  etes  les  anges  gardiens  de  nos  pauvres  ouvriers 
frangais.' 

"  A  few  weeks  ago  the  first  of  our  regular  attendants  who, 


Progress  and  Expansioji.  7 1 

to  our  knowledge,  has  been  called  into  eternity,  died  very 
suddenly  of  paralysis.  He  was  an  old  man,  respectable  but 
poor.  We  had  often  exchanged  a  few  words  with  him  respect- 
ing the  sorrows  of  the  present  and  the  glorious  hope  beyond. 
His  sister,  a  confirmed  invalid,  said,  in  speaking  of  his  death, 
*  Well,  he  is  happy,  doubtless.  He  was  a  good  man.  He  loved 
Jesus.'  On  another  occasion,  a  gentleman  who  had  never,  I 
believe,  attended  any  but  Eoman  Catholic  services  before,  said 
to  a  friend,  *  I  feel,  after  all,  that  I  want  something  more  than 
I  have  yet  found.'  A  kind  invitation  brought  him  to  one  of 
our  meetings  while  we  were  in  England.  A  French  pasteur 
conducted  the  service  in  our  stead.  The  gentleman  listened 
with  interest  to  his  words,  and  on  leaving  said,  '  I  shall  come 
again  when  ]\Ir.  M'All  returns.'  On  the  day  in  which  he  had 
planned  to  be  with  us  he  was  laid  in  the  grave. 

"  It  was  only  on  the  evening  of  writing  this  that  a  French 
gentleman  said  to  us,  '  Je  vous  felicite  de  votre  bonne  oeuvre 
pour  notre  classe  ouvriere.'  He  went  on  to  express  his  belief 
that,  could  similar  efforts  be  multiplied,  an  important  influence 
would  be  exercised  for  the  amelioration  of  morals  and  the 
elevation  of  the  people.  He  said  earnestly  that  the  classe 
ouvriere  had  been  long  and  disastrously  neglected ;  but  he  was 
of  oj)inion  that  even  yet  they  could  be  made  alive  to  the 
realities  of  morals  and  religion.  As  a  Roman  Catholic,  he 
added,  he  admired  the  unsectarianism  of  our  procedure. 

"  Such  spontaneous  testimonies  (and  we  are  cheered  by  them 
frequently)  encourage  the  belief  that  the  mode  we  have  adopted 
commends  itself  to  the  judgment  of  those  who  know  the  French 
populace  well. 

"  We  are  thankful  to  add  that  expressions,  both  oral  and 
written,  could  be  recorded,  leading  us  to  believe  that  the  good 
seed  has  already  yielded  its  fruit  of  spiritual  life  in  some 
hearts.  Some  of  these  have  filled  us  with  inexpressible  grati- 
tude and  joy. 

"  Reviewing  the  year's  history,  we  are  encouraged  to  go  for- 


72  The  IVhite  Fields  of  Fi-ance. 

ward,  relying  on  Divine  help.  The  impression  of  the  urgent 
need  for  such  an  enterprise  which  led  us  to  break  the  ties  of 
pastorate  and  home,  has  been  deepened  day  by  day.  Yet  it  is 
but  little  that  so  few  labourers  can  hope  to  accomplish  towards 
the  reclaim  of  so  vast  a  spiritual  desert.  Would  that  the  hearts 
of  others  might  be  moved,  and  their  way  made  plain,  to  come 
over  and  strengthen  our  hands,  and  thus  render  possible  the 
planting  in  each  dark  and  desolate  quarter  of  this  vast  city,  of 
a  little  centre  whence  heavenly  light  and  love  may  radiate  ! 

"  Amidst  many  toils  and  not  a  few  hardships,  pressed  by  a 
profound  sense  of  responsibility,  in  need  of  wisdom  to  direct, 
and,  above  all,  of  the  influence  of  the  Divine  Spirit  to  render 
our  humble  endeavours  eftectual,  we  crave  to  be  had  in  cease- 
less remembrance  before  our  Father's  throne  ! " 

We  close  this  chapter,  then,  with  the  above  con- 
clusion of  the  first  report,  dated  thus — "R.  W.  M'All, 
28  Rue  Clavel, Belleville, Paris,  January  16th,  1873." 
It  is  a  valuable  document,  and,  because  of  its  value, 
we  have  made  large  use  of  it.  Its  simplicity  and 
modesty  commend  it  to  every  reader.  The  writer 
does  not  obtrude  himself,  nor  magnify  his  own 
efforts,  nor  dilate  upon  his  hardships  and  sacrifices, 
nor  mar  the  noble  narrative  by  calling  attention  to 
the  agents.  He  writes  quietly,  barely, — too  barely, 
perhaps;  without  ornament.  He  has  made  sacri- 
fices ;  but  he  does  not  speak  of  them.  He  has  had 
days  and  nights  of  toil  and  weariness  and  anxiety ; 
but  he  passes  over  these.  Only  those  who  have 
been  upon  the  spot,  and  have  seen  the  interior  of  the 
work,  can  have  any  idea  of  what  these  have  been. 


Progress  a7id  Expansion.  73 

Perhaps  with  more  self-assertion  he  might  have 
borne  down  some  of  his  difficulties.  But,  refusing, 
like  his  Master,  to  ''  strive,"  he  has  doubtless  chosen 
the  better  and,  ultimately,  the  more  successful  part. 
Yet,  knowing  how  to  yield,  he  knows  also  how  to 
stand  ;  knowing  how  to  conciliate,  he  does  not  know 
how  to  compromise.  Compromise  in  a  position  such 
as  his  would  be  fatal. 

First  from  Rue  Clavel,  Belleville,  latterly  from 
Rue  Fessart,  Belleville,  he  has  gone  forth  to  do 
his  daily  work  for  nearly  eight  years  ;  known  in 
Belleville  as  the  friend  of  the  people ;  appreciated 
and  honoured  as  if  he  were  both  pastor  and  priest 
of  that  vast  parish. 

The  personal  influence  he  has  acquired  is  un- 
doubtedly great,  and  mighty  results  have  often  been 
accomplished  by  "  personal  influence."  The  affection 
with  which  he  is  regarded  is  no  less  remarkable,  so 
that  if  he  were  injured,  or  assailed,  all  Belleville 
would  turn  out  in  his  defence.  As  (in  a  sense)  the 
resident  Tiiinister,  he  has  won  a  position  which  he 
could  not  have  had  if  he  had  taken  up  his  dwelling 
in  some  other  part  of  the  city.  He  has  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  people  for  whom  he  came  to  spend  and 
to  be  spent.  "^ 

*  Since  this  was  written  he  has  been  led  by  circumstances  to  leave 
Belleville,  and  to  take  up  his  residence  in  147  Boulevard  Malesherbes. 


74  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

It  has  been  said  that  religious  influence  descends, 
hut  does  not  ascend ;  that  the  lower  ranks  are  in- 
fluenced by  the  higher,  not  the  higher  by  the  lower; 
that  therefore  efforts  for  the  regeneration  of  such  a 
city  as  Paris  will  be  failures  unless  we  get  hold  of 
the  upper  classes  first ;  and  that  it  is  a  mistake  to 
begin  at  the  lowest  faubourg.  We  question  the 
theory  of  ascent  and  descent,  for  history  has  often 
recorded  the  reverse.  But  even  though  it  had  been 
true,  "  the  thing  was  of  God  "  in  the  present  case, 
and  Mr.  M'All  had  no  choice  but  to  follow  where 
he  was  led.  He  did  not  choose  Belleville;  God 
chose  it  for  him,  and  set  him  there,  to  do  a  work 
which  was  to  spread  itself  wide  and  far.  The  theory 
of  ascent  and  descent  does  not  trouble  a  true  evan- 
gelist. He  does  not  calculate  nor  choose.  He  enters 
in  at  the  door  which  a  Divine  hand  has  opened,  and 
works  according  to  the  strength  given,  leaving  it  to 
the  great  Master  to  determine  what  the  fruit  is  to 
be.  In  the  present  case,  there  are  signs  not  doubt- 
ful, that  the  upper  Parisians  are  not  uninterested 
in  what  is  so  profoundly  moving  the  lower;  that 
the  boulevards  are  asking  what  is  this  that  is  tran- 
quillising  the  faubourgs,  and  making  them  so  easy 
to  be  governed.  Once  they  might  have  said.  Can 
any  good  thing  come  out  of  Belleville  ?  But  now, 
when  they  see  that  some  good  thing  has  come  out 


Progress  and  Expansion.  75 

of  it,  that  its  atmosphere  has  been  purified,  and  that 
the  whole  tone  of  the  masses  has  been  bettered  by 
the  change,  they  are  not  disinclined  to  listen  to  a 
Gospel  that  has  wrought  such  a  transformation,  which 
has  not  only  smoothed  over  a  political  crisis,  but 
warded  off  social  shipwreck,  absorbing  those  unruly 
elements  among  the  "  fierce  democracy,"  which,  if 
again  let  loose,  would  not  have  been  satisfied  with 
levelling  the  Vendome  Column,  or  setting  fire  to 
the  Tuileries,  but  of  which  the  unsparing  watch- 
word would  have  been,  Down  with  the  rich  !  and 
death  to  the  priests  I 

The  Gospel  has  come  in  between  Paris  and  revolu- 
tion. It  has  conserved,  and  not  destroyed.  "  Peace, 
be  still ! "  has  been  its  political  message  to  the 
ouvriers  of  the  French  capital.  By  proclaiming  the 
true  "  equality  "  of  men  in  Christ  Jesus,  it  has  pre- 
vented the  proclamation  of  an  equality  which  would 
have  simply  meant  plunder,  bloodshed,  and  misrule. 

Yet,  let  us  not  be  prematurely  confident.  Roman- 
ism shakes  its  clenched  fist  at  liberty  in  every  form, 
resolved  on  exasperating  the  Republic  to  deeds  of 
bloodshed;  while  the  latter,  though  exhibiting  in 
general  wonderful  self-restraint,  sometimes  seems  on 
the  point  of  accepting  a  challenge,  in  which  "  Death 
to  the  priesthood  !  "  would  be  the  gathering  cry.  In 
April  of  the  present  year  (1879),  a  monk  preached 


76  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

in  a  provincial  cathedral,  and  in  his  sermon  attacked 
lay  teaching.  A  group  immediately  gathered  round 
him  in  the  church,  and  began  the  "Marseillaise/* 
In  the  midst  of  the  confusion,  a  voice  was  heard 
"  Vive  la  Commune  !  " 

One  man  lighted  a  cigar ;  another  shook  his  fist 
at  the  preacher,  shouting  "  Down  with  the  priests  !  " 
An  official  present  stepped  forward  and  requested 
the  preacher  to  stop.  The  danger  of  violence  was 
imminent;  but  the  parties  seem  to  have  retired 
scowling  at  each  other. 

The  Municipal  Council  of  Paris  has  recently 
passed  a  singular  decree, — striking  out  "  religious 
music  "  from  its  prize  competitions.  The  report  of 
their  committee  runs  thus — 

"  Yonr  Committee,  gentlemen,  think  that  religious  art  has 
had  its  day.  It  reached  the  height  of  grandeur  with  S.  Bach, 
Handel,  and  Haydn,  because  those  men  of  genius  knew  how 
to  express  and  convey  human  passions  while  dealing  with 
imaginary  beings.  The  more  the  extent  of  human  knowledge 
increases,  the  more  this  art  is  incompatible,  on  account  of  what 
it  expresses,  with  the  scientific  spirit  and  free  thought  of  our 
age  ;  the  Municipal  Council  of  Paris  ought  not  to  encourage  it, 
and  we  propose  to  you,  therefore,  to  exclude  from  competition 
religious  music  in  all  its  forms.  We  understand  by  religious 
music,  not  only  church  music,  properly  so  called,  that  is  to  say, 
every  musical  composition  having  words  that  belong  to  the 
domain  of  liturgy,  but  also  the  Oratorio^  which  the  old  com- 
mission, far  from  excluding,  held  up  as  a  model  for  competitors 
to  follow." 


Progress  and  Expansion.  77 

This  decree  has  been  represented  by  some 
newspapers  as  a  return  to  the  atheism  of  the  first 
revolution.  Possibly  it  carries  no  such  meaning  in 
the  strange  sentences  just  quoted.  Sacred  music  is 
with  these  authorities  associated  with  the  Church  of 
Rome ;  and  they  know  how  by  means  of  it  the  priest- 
hood is  trying  once  more  to  get  the  ear  of  France. 
They  say,  therefore,  We  will  have  nothing  to  do  with 
it,  as  part  of  a  competition  which  draws  upon  our 
funds.  They  who  wish  it  may  have  it  for  them- 
selves without  us.  There  may  not  be  any  infidel 
dislike  of  religion  in  all  this  ;  there  may  only  be  the 
dread  of  an  art  which  has  been  so  often  perverted  to 
evil  ends,  and  made  use  of  in  the  reactionary  tactics 
of  the  Church  of  Rome. 

We  wish  that  the  municipality  would  go  for  itself 
and  hear  the  sacred  songs  at  Belleville,  or  Ornano, 
or  La  Villette,  or  Batignolles.  They  would  not  hear  a 
performance,  an  oratorio,  or  a  piece  of  "  religious  art," 
or  anything  belonging  to  "the  domain  of  liturgy." 
They  would  not  hear  anything,  perhaps,  regarding 
which  they  might  think  it  worth  their  while  either  to 
give  or  refuse  prizes ;  but  they  would  hear  something 
that  would  not  "  restrain  freedom,"  but  speak  its 
praises  ;  something  which  even  their  "  revolutionary 
logic,"  as  it  has  been  called,  could  not  condemn  : 
something  which  was  not  the  utterance  of  priest- 


78  The  White  Fields  of  F7^ance. 

craft  nor  the  symbol  of  ecclesiastical  domination  : 
something  altogether  unlike,  both  in  melody  and 
sentiment,  the  artificial  sounds  with  which  men 
thought  to  please  God  and  to  soothe  their  spirits 
into  the  dreamy  unrealities  of  musical  ritualism. 
Even  the  municipal  dignitaries  of  the  city, — com- 
munistic as  their  opinions  are, — would  not  feel 
aggrieved  by  the  simplicities  of  such  a  hymn  as 
this, — 

"  Oh,  que  ton  joug  est  facile  ! 

Oh,  combieii  j'aime  ta  loi  ! 

D'lm  triste  et  rude  esclavage 

Aflfranchi  par  J^sus-Christ, 

J'ai  part  a  son  heritage 

Au  secours  cle  son  Esprit 

An  lieu  cl'un  Maitre  severe 

Pret  h.  juger  et  punir, 

Je  sers  le  plus  tendre  Pere, 

Toujours  pret  a  me  b^nir." 

But  whatever  their  impressions  might  be,  the 
"  sweet  singers  "  of  the  Mission  would  neither  feel 
angry  at  their  contempt,  nor  elated  at  their  ap- 
plause. A  music-prize  may  be  a  great  thing  to  the 
frequenters  of  cathedral  concerts,  or  the  composers 
for  a  ritualistic  orchestra ;  it  would  be  nothing  to 
the  happy  choristers  of  Bercy  or  Grenelle. 


Wider  Expansion.  79 


CHAPTER  IV. 

WIDER    EXPANSION. 

"JvwT'-^  need  not  boast  nor  exaggerate ;  yet  we 
^^'  may  not  despise  the  day  of  small  things. 
Paris  is  not  changed  in  a  year;  yet  impressions 
may  be  made  which  begin  immediately  to  tell  upon 
the  community.  The  second  annual  report  (1878) 
is  full  of  interest. 

The  labourers  are  few ;  yet  even  one  labourer 
tells  :  and  without  these  labourers  Paris  would  be 
poorer  and  worse.  There  are  aboat  500  city 
missionaries  in  London.  They  may  produce  but 
little  apparent  impression  ;  but  their  work  tells  in 
hundreds  of  unknown  ways,  and  London  would  be 
darker  if  they  were  withdrawn. 

Thus  let  us  deal  with  the  Paris  work ;  and  rejoice 
that  within  two  years  it  has  done  something  which 
will  last  eternally. 

The  French  officials  and  the  police  force  have 
not  only  shown  all  courtesy,  but  acknowledged  the 


8o  The  White  Fields  of  F^^ance, 

influence  of  the  work.  A  Commissary  of  police 
remarked,  "We  cannot  but  welcome  you  to  our 
quarter :  you  are  coming  to  do  our  work,  to  labour 
with  us  for  the  order  and  morality  of  the  community." 
This  was  a  testimony  worth  having. 

While  the  police  recognise  the  influence  of  the 
work  on  the  morals  of  the  city,  other  outsiders  are 
no  less  observant.  Mr.  M'All  was  in  treaty  for  a 
new  room.  The  concierge  had  attended  some  of  the 
meetings,  and  the  landlady  had  heard  of  them.  "  I 
quite  understand  your  object,"  she  said  ; — "they  say 
you  are  the  people  that  are  not  of  any  religion," 
meaning  not  preaching  the  religion  of  a  sect. 
The  concierge  struck  in  with  a  commendation  less 
negative,  and,  while  expressing  his  desire  that  we 
should  have  our  station  there,  said, — "  C'est  le  vrai 
Christianisme."  Yes;  it  is  Christianity, — not  a 
Church  or  sect  or  party  that  is  preached ;  and  it  is 
the  reception  of  this  that  is  telling  on  the  population. 
The  good  news,  in  all  their  freeness,  as  that  which 
alone  can  save  the  mechanic  of  London  or  the  ouvrier 
of  Paris;  it  is  this  that  has  opened  eyes,  and  won 
hearts  from  sin.  God's  great  love  in  Christ  is  what 
these  poor  communists  never  heard  before.  Their 
religion, — if  they  had  any,— was  the  religion  of  terror 
and  of  money,  not  that  of  love  and  Divine  generosity; 
the  religion  of  the  confessional,  or  the  crucifix,  or  the 


Wide7^  Expansion.  8 1 

priest.  True  Christianity !  Tliey  had  not  seen  it 
anywhere.  False  Christianity  !  They  had  seen  it 
everywhere.  Up  till  this  time  they  had  not  known 
that  true  religion  rests  on  grace,  and  that  the  God 
and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  really  cares 
for  the  men  of  the  pavement  and  the  barricade. 

The  soldiers  come  to  hear ;  and  one  of  them, 
attending  one  of  the  stations  in  1872,  thus  writes 
to  Mr.  M'All.  His  idea  of  the  work  is  briefly 
given  thus  : — "  La  rude  mais  glorieuse  tdche  que 
vous  avez  entreprise  au  sein  clu  quartier  le  plus 
deprave  de  Paris.''  He  tells  of  the  void  Avhich 
he  felt  in  his  heart,  and  the  desire  to  converse  on 
the  true  way  of  filling  that  void.  Thus  he  ends : — 
"  Je  termine  ma  petite  lettre  en  faisant  des  voeux 
pour  que  les  efforts  que  vous  faites  soient  couronnes 
d'un  plein  sueces.  Que  Dieu  vous  donne  en  d 
coonpte  de  la  recoriiijense  qu'il  promet  d  ceux  qui 
lui  gagnent  des  dines,  les  benedictions  les  plus 
abondantes."  The  Crenelle  station,  close  by  the 
vast  Ecole  Militaire,  has  been  specially  successful  in 
attracting  soldiers. 

The  ateliers  surrounding  the  La  Chapelle  station 
have  been  visited,  and  the  workmen  invited  to  the 
meeting.  They  crowded  into  the  large  and  well- 
situated  room,  and  the  opening  service  was  "  singu- 
larly  interesting."     The   district  is  very  populous, 


82  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

but  very  destitute  spiritually ;  and  the  deep  seri- 
ousness of  the  audience  was  most  striking.  The 
overflowing  room,  week  after  week,  showed  the 
interest  and  appreciation.  Every  class  of  the 
community  seems  accessible,  as  the  reports  show, 
and  the  work  is  everywhere  spoken  about,  but  not 
spoken  against,  save  by  the  priesthood,  whose  words 
do  little  harm.^'* 

The  question  of  giving  pecuniary  aid  to  the  needy 
has  frequently  come  up,  almost  from  the  first,  and 
the  decision  wisely  arrived  at  was,  that  this  should 
be  done  with  great  caution,  and  only  in  extreme 
cases,  after  scrupulous  inquiry.  Indeed,  had  there 
been  anything  like  lavish  giving,  it  would  have 
injured  the  Mission  immensely,  by  associating  with 
it   what   the   enemies  would  have   called   religious 

*  In  reading  the  accounts  which  these  reports  give  us  of  the 
listening  ears  and  open  doors  in  Paris,  one  is  led  to  contrast  the 
state  of  things  here  noted  with  that  which  Mr.  Robert  Haldane 
describes,  now  more  than  sixty  years  ago.  He  speaks  of  Paris  not 
only  as  "involved  in  Egyptian  darkness,"  but  as  almost  hopeless. 
"  I  soon  perceived  that  I  had  no  means  of  furthering  my  journey  in 
that  great  metropolis."  Not  only  so,  but  he  furnishes  us  with 
another  contrast, — the  opposition  of  the  French  pastors  to  the 
intrusion  of  strangers.  A  remonstrance  against  the  Continental 
Society  for  sending  preachers  into  the  parishes  of  other  ministers  was 
got  up  in  Paris  and  signed  by  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Pastors,  as 
well  as  peers  of  France,  members  of  the  Chambers,  and  even  agents 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  To  this  singular  remon- 
strance Mr.  Haldane  wrote  an  able  reply,  maintaining  the  right  of 
evangelists  to  enter  in  at  every  open  door. 


Wider  Expansion,  %2> 

bribery.      All  this  has  been  carefully  avoided,  and 
yet  the  destitute  have  not  been  overlooked. 

The  students'  quarter,  or  Quartier  Latin,  has  not 
been  overlooked.  It  is  a  district  noted  for  irreligion 
and  atheism  ;  but  the  effort  was  successful,  and  the 
station  in  the  Rue  Monge  was  so  crowded  that  a 
larger  room  had  to  be  obtained.  Here  the  educated 
classes  were  brought  to  listen  to  the  Gospel,  and 
here  M.  Rosseeuw  St.  Hilaire,  for  many  years  a 
Sorbonne  Professor,  gave  effectual  help. 

During  the  second  year  no  less  than  1019  meet- 
ings were  held,  of  which  Mr.  M'All  conducted  more 
than  500  himself.  This  of  itself  speaks  to  the  very 
great  amount  of  labour  which  this  Mission  involves. 
There  is  not  only  the  weekly  arranging  for  the  now 
twenty-three  stations,  and  sending  the  due  intima- 
tions to  the  different  parties,  but  there  is  the  actual 
conducting  of  the  meetings  night  a.fter  night.  Mr. 
M'All  now  has  his  anxieties  and  labours  somewhat 
lightened  by  his  colleagues,  M.  Rouilly  and  Mr. 
Dodds ;  but  still  there  is  work  enough  to  fill  the 
hands  of  many  more.  To  arrange  for  1019  meetings 
must  have  involved  immense  trouble  and  toil ;  but 
now  to  arrange  for  2788  is  quite  an  over-burden, 
even  for  three  superintendents,  and  to  conduct  even 
the  half  of  these  night  after  night  would  require  not 
three  men,  but  ten.    To  most  ministers  at  home  the 


84  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

idea  of  arranging  for  2000  meetings  in  a  year,  and 
conducting  even  the  fourth  of  these,  would  be  quite 
alarming.  If  proposed  to  any  minister,  it  would  not 
be  undertaken  by  one  in  a  thousand ;  and  if  under- 
taken, it  would  be  pronounced  ''  killing  work."  No 
such  amount  of  labour  is  laid  upon  our  city  mission- 
aries; and  it  ought  to  startle  the  Churches  to  think  of 
the  ''  heat  and  burden  "  which  the  Parisian  labourers 
have  to  endure.  When,  moreover,  the  immense 
distances  and  the  late  hours  are  remembered,  the 
amount  of  the  fatigue  will  be  somewhat  realised. 
The  two,  four,  or  six  miles  of  weary  omnibus  and 
tramway  travel  might  not  seem  so  oppressive  were 
it  not  for  the  hours  at  which  these  meetings  must 
be  held  in  order  to  suit  the  motley  audience.  In 
a  city  like  Edinburgh  or  Glasgow,  we  get  home 
from  our  meetings  seldom  much  later  than  nine. 
But  in  Paris  it  is  ten,  or  eleven,  or  even  twelve 
o'clock  (if  the  conveyances  happen  to  be  full)  ere 
the  tired  missionary  reaches  his  dwelling.  Rowland 
Hill  used  humorously  to  give  as  his  receipt  for 
making  a  long-lived  minister, — ''  Preach  three  times 
every  Sabbath,  and  every  evening  in  the  week." 
But  this  is  something  more  :  and  it  ought  to  trouble 
us  in  our  ease  at  home  to  remember  these  labours. 
It  should  also  awaken  a  deeper  interest  in  the  Paris 
Mission  than  we  have  ever  taken. 


Wider  Expansion.  85 

John  Berridge,  of  Everton,  in  the  last  century,  is 
said  to  have  preached  twelve  times  a-week.  But 
then  this  was  not  continuous  work,  but  only  when 
he  went  on  his  missionary  tours.  Grimshaw,  of 
Haworth,  regarded  it  as  an  idle  week  in  which  he 
preached  less  than  a  dozen  times ;  and  sometimes 
he  has  been  known  to  mount  up  to  thirty.  White- 
field  in  one  of  his  letters  writes  :  '^  I  preached  nine 
times  a-week :  the  people  were  all  attention,  as 
hearing  for  eternity ;  "  and  in  another  letter  he 
uses  this  fio^ure  reo^ardinoj  his  work  :  "  I  am  huntinof 
for  poor  lost  sinners  in  these  ungospelised  wilds." 
Probably  the  French  pastors,  like  many  among  our- 
selves, have  not  been  accustomed  to  such  an  enormous 
amount  of  work,  and  may  be  afraid  of  overtaxing 
their  strength.  But  I  am  persuaded  that  the  more 
they  throw  themselves  into  this  great  evangelising 
work,  the  more  will  they  be  surprised  at  the  amount 
of  labour  which  they  are  able  to  undergo.  There 
are  noble  men  among  them  worthy  of  their  sires, 
whom  we  shall  not  name,  lest  in  our  ignorance  we 
should  omit  some  of  the  worthiest.  But  there  they 
are.  They  are  to  be  the  evangelists  of  the  land. 
It  is  to  them  we  look  for  setting  France  on  fire  : 
and  the  fire  which  they  kindle  will  not  be  that  of 
politics  or  passion,  not  of  sedition  or  socialism,  but 
of  Christian  fervour  and  love. 


S6  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

True,  Mr.  M'All  and  his  colleagues  have  not  to 
conduct  the  whole  of  each  of  these  meetings.  They 
have  the  valuable  help  of  the  French  pastors,  who 
have  thrown  themselves  so  heartily  into  the  work, 
without  jealousy  or  prejudice;  but  still  the  chief 
part  of  the  conducting  of  these  meetings  rests  upon 
Mr.  M'All  and  his  colleagues.  Each  night  of  the 
week  (save  Saturday)  their  hands  are  full.  They 
have  no  time  for  dinners,  or  parties,  or  sight-seeings, 
or  even  quiet  family  recreation.  Each  day  brings 
the  work  of  arranging,  or  visitiug,  or  receiving 
callers,  and  each  night  brings  the  labour  of  the 
meetings, — sometimes  two,  or  even  more.  There 
is  no  folding  of  the  hands  nor  eating  the  bread  of 
idleness.  How  long  this  may  last,  one  would  not 
like  to  guess.  But  if  there  should  be  a  break-down 
of  the  over- wrought  labourers,  we  should  not  be  taken 
by  surprise.  Are  there  not  ten  or  twenty  of  our 
zealous  young  men  who  will  offer  themselves  for 
such  a  field  ?  ■  A  field  so  large,  so  needy,  so  full  of 
interest,  and  so  close  at  hand  ! 

The  nature  of  these  meetins^s  is  thus  stated  in 
the  second  report  : — "  In  every  service  on  the  Sun- 
day, and  on  every  week-day  evening,  at  every 
station,  the  Bible  is  read  first  of  all ;  and  read 
avowedly  as  God's  Word.  Every  meeting,  without 
exception,  from  the  beginning  of  the  Mission,  has 


Wider  Expansion.  8  7 

been  conducted  with  the  direct  aim  of  bringing  the 
Bible  as  God's  Word,  and  the  atoning  Saviour  as 
the  sinner's  only  refuge,  before  our  hearers.  For 
what  other  purpose  did  we  quit  our  congregation, 
our  friends,  our  English  home  ?  " 

The  political  ferments  of  the  years  succeeding 
the  retirement  of  the  Prussian  army ;  the  unsettled 
and  angry  tone  of  society  at  that  time ;  the  un- 
certainties of  political  parties  and  rival  statesmen ; 
the  dread  of  renewed  turbulence  and  massacre; — 
these  naturally  produced  anxiety,  which  was  not  at 
once  allayed ;  and  the  forebodings  of  even  true 
friends,  forecasting  evil  and  predicting  the  speedy 
arrest  of  evangelising  liberty,  could  not  but  raise 
misgivings  in  the  minds  of  the  labourers. 

But  by  the  end  of  1873  all  these  fears  passed 
away,  and  Mr.  M'All  could  congratulate  the  Mission 
on  the  permanence  of  the  footing  obtained.  The 
permission  during  that  year,  given  by  the  municipal 
authorities  to  open  new  stations  was  most  gratifying  ; 
and  the  unsolicited  assurance  on  the  part  of  these 
authorities  of  willingness  to  license  other  stations, 
removed  all  anxieties  and  uncertainties ;  the  more 
so  because  it  was  then  ascertained  that  the  previous 
stations  had  been  carefully  examined  and  reported 
on  to  Government.  The  absence  of  all  politics  and 
controversy  satisfied  the  rulers  of  France  that  these 


88  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

meetings  were  not  dangerous  associations ;  and  the 
reports  of  the  police  that  a  quieter  neighbourhood 
was  the  unfailing  result  of  the  establishment  of  each 
successive  station,  inclined  them  greatly  to  favour  the 
extension  which  thus  promised,  if  not  to  supersede,  at 
least  to  lessen  greatly  the  necessity  for  their  interference. 
They  saw  that  the  Protestant  minister  was  doing  what 
neither  the  police  nor  the  priest  could  accomplish. 

As  to  the  young,  it  is  interesting  to  know  how 
the  work  advances.  "We  have  learned  by  the  report 
for  1878  that  about  3000  of  them  were  under 
instruction.  But  this  does  not  lessen  the  interest 
with  which  we  read  of  the  juvenile  work  in  its 
earlier  stages.  In  1872,  the  Sabbath  school  at 
the  Faubourg  St.  Antoine  numbered  100  scholars; 
and  no  less  than  seven  such  schools  are  reported 
along  with  this,  numbering  about  350  children, 
with  upwards  of  20  teachers.  The  children's 
holiday  afternoon  meetings  (four  of  which  were 
then  held  every  Thursday),  and  the  classes  for 
teaching  English  to  the  workmen,  were  numerously 
attended.  There  were  also  special  services  for 
young  women  at  no  less  than  three  stations. 

The  report  for  the  year  (1872)  contains  the 
following  statement,  which,  both  as  a  brief  review 
of  the  past  and  an  appeal  for  the  future,  will  interest 
our  readers  : — 


Wider  Expansion.  89 

"  During  tlie  year,  we  have  been  enabled  to  double  the  number 
of  stations,  besides  enlarging  several  of  the  older  ones.  The 
number  of  sittings  (chairs)  is  raised  from  515  to  1056.  At 
this  moment,  urgent  appeals  are  before  us  for  the  immediate 
planting  of  two  other  stations  in  outlying  districts  inhabited 
by  the  labouring  poor,  and  remote  from  existing  evangelical 
agencies.  In  each  of  these  quarters  there  are  a  few  residents 
who  earnestly  desire  the  Gospel  for  themselves  and  their 
neighbours.  Who  would  not  desire  to  respond  to  such  a  call  % 
The  lack  of  additional  helpers  is  our  main  difficulty  in  the 
case.  But,  for  one  of  these  districts,  the  services  of  our 
excellent  co-worker,  Mr.  J.  G.  Alexander,  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  will  be  available  on  his  expected  return  to  Paris. 
In  order  to  our  entering  on  further  openings,  as  well  as 
effectively  to  sustain  present  operations,  the  entire  services  of 
at  least  one  well-qualified  fellow-labourer  are  indispensable. 
We  are  full  of  hope  that  this  pressing  want  is  about  to  be 
supplied. 

"  A  few  words  will  be  sufficient  with  respect  to  the  older 
stations.  At  Belleville,  Menihiiontant,  and  Montmartre,  the 
meetings  have  been  carried  on  with  unbroken  regularity  and 
with  an  increased  attendance.  The  number  of  constant  hearers 
at  each  place  is  much  larger  than  formerly  ;  and  in  the  case  of 
a  considerable  number  of  these,  we  believe  that  the  good  seed 
has  fallen  into  good  groimd.  Especially  at  Montmartre  and 
at  M^nilmontant,  we  have  been  permitted  to  rejoice  over  one 
and  another  brought  under  the  power  of  a  Saviour's  love. 
Some  of  these  have  joined  neighbouring  congregations.  Among 
them  are  several  persons  of  superior  position  and  culture,  who 
state  that,  when  they  first  entered  our  rooms,  the  name  which 
is  now  most  precious  to  them  was  desj)ised  or  even  hated.  In 
addition  to  these  more  marked  cases,  we  believe  that  the 
Divine  Spirit  has  been  gently  working  on  many  hearts.  Not 
a  few  of  our  hearers  are  such  as  had  been  secretly  longing  to 
discover  some  healing  balm,  some  refu^^e  for  the  soul.     Their 


90  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

exj)erieiice,  tlioiigli  not  taking  the  sudden  and  striking  form, 
is  not  less  real  and  decisive.  Even  the  countenance  conies  to 
wear  an  impress  which  silently  testifies  of  the  transforming 
power  of  the  Gospel.  Friends  from  England,  visiting  our 
stations  at  successive  intervals,  have  recognised  the  same  faces, 
but  have  remarked  this  visible  change,  telling  of  the  ameliorat- 
ing influence.  While  thus  encouraged,  we  crave  the  fervent 
prayer  of  all  our  Christian  brethren  that  the  number  of  true 
converts  may  be  multiplied  a  hundredfold. 

"  The  station  in  the  Faubourg  St.  Antoine  was  in  its  infancy 
at  the  date  of  last  report.  A  few  days  ago,  we  gave,  according 
to  our  custom,  a  tea  meeting  to  the  regular  attendants,  in 
commemoration  of  the  first  anniversary  of  the  opening.  120 
persons  were  present.  We  were  enabled  to  review  the  year's 
history  of  the  place  with  encouragement  and  gratitude  to  God. 
Dr.  Fisch,  who  kindly  helps  us  there,  and  others  gave  appro- 
priate addresses.  It  was  a  happy  evening.  At  each  of  these 
social  gatherings  the  evidences  of  grateful  feeling  have  been 
truly  cheering.  At  M^nilmontant,  last  spring,  an  ouvrier  said, 
'We  are  your  family.  You  have  united  us  all  here  as  one 
great  family.' " 

The   finances  of  the    Mission  at   this  time   are 

thus  briefly  and  satisfactorily  referred  to  : — 

"  The  financial  position  of  the  Mission  is  in  every  way  satis- 
factory. With  gratitude  to  Him  who  disposes  His  people  to 
sustain  effort  for  the  extension  of  His  kingdom,  we  have  to 
record  that  the  entire  sum  acknowledged  on  the  balance-sheet 
has  been  contributed  without  one  solitary  application  on  our 
part  throughout  the  year.  As  we  before  remarked,  a  consider- 
able balance  in  hand  is  indispensable  in  order  to  shield  the 
Mission  from  liability  to  sudden  collapse.  Without  it,  even  a 
partial  cessation  of  contributions  for  a  short  time  would  render 
it  impossible  to  meet  the  heavy  rental  of  the  rooms.  Happily, 
Christian  liberality  has  kept  pace  with  the  more  than  doubled 


Wider  Expansion.  9 1 

requirements,  and  the  balance  is  preserved  and  increased. 
Though  the  Mission  is  conducted  by  honorary  workers,  so  that 
the,  whole  amount  suhscrihed  (joes,  ■unabated,  to  its  direct  susten- 
tation,  the  items  of  rental,  furnishing  mission-rooms,  incidentals. 
&c.,  are,  of  necessity,  constantly  increasing.  More  than  this, 
the  enlarged  operations  have  rendered  necessary  an  expenditure 
for  the  board  of  some  of  the  helpers,  together  with  payments, 
in  some  instances,  for  door-keeping  and  for  time  which  our 
friends  would  gladly  devote  freely,  were  it  in  their  power  to 
do  so.  To  these  liabilities  must  be  added  prospectively  the 
stipend  of  an  evangelist  as  co-worker,  so  urgently  needed. 
Hence  the  pecuniary  requirements  for  the  coming  year  must 
necessarily  be,  even  without  any  extension  of  the  field  of  effort, 
considerably  in  advance  of  the  past.  We  believe  that  we  shall 
not  be  disappointed  in  trusting  for  all  that  the  enterprise  thus 
needs  to  the  free-will  offerings  of  loving  hearts." 

I  now  give  the  ''one  or  two  suggestive  incidents" 
which  the  report  contains.  For,  after  all,  these  are 
the  things  which  indicate  the  real  fruit.  They 
are  indeed  but  specimens ;  still,  they  are  represent- 
atives of  a  coDsiderable  circle, — a  circle  much 
wider  than  we  have  any  idea  of.  Truth  is  vital, 
and  the  Word  of  God  is  a  living  word ;  quickening 
many  whom  we  know,  and  mauy  more  ^vhom  we 
do  not  know ;  but  who  have  not  the  less  powerfully 
and  permanently  been  reached  by  the  "  quick  and 
powerful  word  :" — 

"  A  respectable  ouvrier  of  middle  age  commenced  attendance 

at station  early  in  1872.     After  a  time,  we  noticed  his 

evidently  deepening  interest ;  indeed  his  whole  aspect  bespoke 
an  ameliorating  influence.     He  became  an  easier  reader  of  the 


92  The  White  Fields  of  F^'-ance. 

"books  in  our  lending  library.  At  last,  lie  was  induced  to  tell 
us  the  state  of  liis  mind.  Before  attending  the  reunions,  he 
had  been  full  of  sceptical  doubts.  Kenan's  '  Vie  de  Jesus/ 
especially,  had  gained  great  hold  upon  him.  Now,  he  stated, 
he  had  come  to  see  that  these  were  only  sophistical  evasions  of 
the  truth,  and  that  the  reality  of  religion  was  to  be  found  in 
the  Gospel.  The  French  translation  of  Dr.  Hanna's  'Last 
Days  of  our  Lord's  Passion '  (kindly  supplied,  with  other  ex- 
cellent books,  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Macfie,  M.P.)  interested  him.  One 
day,  no  book  apparently  suitable  for  him  could  be  found.  He 
took  home,  however,  one  intended  for  the  young,  containing 
the  touching  account  of  a  little  child's  piety  and  happy  death. 
On  returning  it,  he  feelingly  expressed  his  admiration,  saying, 
*  II  faut  que  nous  devenions  tons  conime  de  petits  enfants.'  We 
constantly  see  this  worthy  friend,  and  have  no  doubt  that  he 
has  placed  his  whole  trust  in  Christ. 

"  Another  ouvrier  who,  in  his  boyhood,  had  known  something 

of  the  Gospel  in  the  remote  department  of ,  came  to  our 

room  on  the  opening  evening,  and  has  attended,  with 

his  family,  ever  since.  He  expresses  great  thankfulness  that 
we  were  led  to  his  neighbourhood.  '  You  have  brought  back 
to  my  memory,'  he  has  repeatedly  said,  '  those  early  teachings 
respecting  Jesus  as  the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  man, 
of  which  I  had  nearly  lost  sight ;  and  I  intend,  by  God's  help, 
to  walk  in  that  way  to  the  end  of  my  days.' 

"  The  cases  of  an  aged  mother  and  her  son,  a  man  in  the 
prime  of  life,  have  caused  us  great  joy.     They  have  attended 

our room  for  a  year  and  a-half.     Both  testify  that  the 

faithful  words  spoken  there  by  various  Christian  friends  have 
brought  new  life  and  blessedness  to  their  heart.  The  following 
are  a  few  of  the  son's  expressions,  related  to  us  by  a  Christian 
lady  : — '  Voila  ce  qu'il  me  faut,  c'est  de  savoir  que  j'ai  un 
Sauveur  parfait,  Maintenant,  quoiqu'il  arrive,  je  ne  crains 
rien,  puisque  Dieu  me  garde.  Je  sais  qu'il  m'aime  ;  cela  me 
sufiit.     J'avais  besoin  depuis  longtemps  de  connaitre  la  v^rit^  ; 


Wider  Expansion.  93 

maintenant  je  I'ai  trouvee.'  To  another  friend  he  said, 
'  Unhappily,  I  am  no  speaker  ;  or  I  should  long  to  tell  all 

the  people   at  [our  station]   what   blessedness  I  have 

found.' 

"At  the  same  station,  a  descendant  of  the  Vaudois  of 
Piedmont,  who  had  long  lived  in  unconcern,  was  awakened  to 
the  realities  of  religion,  and  is  now  a  respected  member  of  one 
of  the  Evangelical  Churches  in  Paris.  Two  ladies,  also,  who 
had  adopted  deistical  views,  and,  as  they  stated,  had  come  to 
dislike  the  mention  of  the  name  of  Jesus,  now  esteem  that 
name  above  all  others. 

"  A  shoemaker  stated  that,  before  the  opening  of  our 

room,  he  was  utterly  careless  respecting  religion.  Since 
coming  to  live  in  Paris,  he  had  disregarded  the  teachings 
received  in  his  early  days.  '  Now,'  said  he,  '  I  and  my  wife 
are  like  children  at  school  who  look  forward  to  the  holidays. 
On   Thursday,  we  say,  "  Only  two  days  more,  then  Sunday 

will  be  here ;  then  • evening  follows  quickly ;  and  now  we 

have in  addition  " '  (referring  to  a  new  station  not  far 

distant). 

"  May  17. — Delighted  to  hear  from  a  Christian  ouvrier  that 
he  and  one  or  two  of  his  friends  were  commencing  little 
meetings  on  the  model  of  ours  in  their  houses.  Gave  him  a 
few  pictures  to  ornament  the  walls.  Speaking  of  these  pictures 
from  England,  mostly  illustrative  of  Scripture  History,  which 
give  an  air  of  cheerfulness  to  all  our  rooms,  our  kind  friend 
Miss  Blundell  said,  '  Every  one  of  these  pictures  seems  to  say 
to  the  people,  "  I  love  you." ' 

June   13. — A   poor   woman   at  burst  into    tears   on 

hearing  the  simple  prayer  at  the  close  of  the  meeting.  Pro- 
bably she  had  never  heard  a  prayer  offered  in  her  own  language 
before.     She  has  been  a  most  attentive  hearer  ever  since. 

"  Dec.  18. — A  boy  in  the  children's  meeting  at when  the 

question  was  put, '  What  is  it  that  makes  us  love  our  parents  V 
replied,  '  C'est  parce  qu'ils  remplacent  Dieu  pour  nous.' 


94  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  The  following  incidents  are  examples  of  tlie  new  interest 
awakened  on  reading  the  Bible  for  the  first  time. 

"An  ouv7'ier  borrowed  a  Bible,  his  countenance  beaming 
with  pleasure  as  he  carried  it  home.  At  the  fortnight's  end 
(the  time  for  which  it  was  lent),  he  brought  it  back  to  us, 
saying,  '  I  have  not  had  time  to  read  all,  only  the  chief  parts  ; 
but  it  is  a  most  interesting  book.  All  I  can  do  is  to  thank 
you  heartily  for  the  loan  of  it.'  We  said,  '  Take  it  again  for 
another  fortnight.'  He  hesitated,  saying  that  he  feared  he 
might  deprive  some  one  else  of  the  opportunity  of  reading  it. 
We  reassured  him,  and  he  again  took  it.  At  the  second  fort- 
night's end,  he  once  more  offered  to  return  the  book,  with  many 
thanks.  We  received  it  from  him  ;  then,  knowing  him  to  be 
very  poor  (though  we  rarely  give  Bibles,  thinking  it  better  to 
lend  them),  we  sent  it  to  him  as  a  gift.  His  eyes  filled  with 
tears  on  receiving  it.  Since  then,  nearly  every  time  we  see  him, 
he  says, '  Oh  !  comme  il  est  bon,  votre  cadeau  !   Je  le  lis  toujours.' 

"A  woman  from  Lorraine  borrowed  a  New  Testament  in 

German  at  our  room.      She,  too,  after  the  fortnight, 

returned  it,  saying, '  It  is  the  most  interesting  book  I  ever  read 
in  my  life.  I  had  no  idea  there  was  so  good  a  book  in  existence. 
I  never  read  it  before.  I  have  put  my  little  ones  to  bed  early 
and  sat  up  late  and  risen  before  the  others  to  read  it ;  and  now 
my  husband  has  become  interested  in  it  too.'  Though  very 
poor,  she  was  delighted  to  obtain  from  us  a  German  Bible  in 
large  type  at  the  reduced  price  at  which  the  National  Bible 
Society  of  Scotland  enables  us  to  supply  the  Scriptures  in 
special  cases. 

"  We  often  meet  with  instances,  also,  of  the  value  set  by  the 
people  upon  the  Scripture  Portions,  so  kindly  supplied  by  the 
conductors  of  the  Bible  Stand,  Crystal  Palace.  A  journeyman 
painter,  who  had  frequented  our  meetings  at  Belleville,  was 
leaving  Paris  to  seek  work  in  the  provinces.  One  of  our 
helpers  called  at  his  little  room  to  say  good-bye.  In  a  corner  of 
the  small  bag  which  he  had  prepared  for  his  journey,  he  showed 


Wider  Expansion.  95 

her,  carefully  arranged,  tlie  four  Gospels,  Acts  and  Romans. 
*  There,'  said  he,  '  is  the  store  of  comfort  I  shall  carry  along 
with  me.'  He  has  since  written  several  beautiful  letters, 
assuring  us  that,  amidst  all  his  difficulties,  he  had  found  an 
unfailing  help  in  looking  to  the  God  and  Saviour  of  whom 
those  little  books  taught  him. 

"  Riding  in  the  omnibus,  one  day,  we  gave  (as  we  do  often)  a 
Portion,  John's  Gospel,  to  the  conductor.  Being  somewhat  at 
leisure,  he  immediately  began  to  read  it  earnestly.  After  a 
little  time,  he  said,  '  This  is  an  excellent  book  that  you  have 
given  me.'  At  the  end  of  the  ride,  he  renewed  his  thanks, 
saying,  '  This  is,  indeed,  a  good  book  ;  I  wish  that  every  one 
had  such  a  book  to  read.' 

"  Kind  words  are  often  spoken  by  the  ouvri&rs  when  shaking 
hands  with  us  at  the  doors  after  the  meetings.  At  the  Rue 
Monge  station,  for  example,  a  fine  young  man  grasped  our 
hand  saying,  '  Deja  un  frere.'  Another  said,  '  Bon  soir, 
monsieur — ah  non  ! — je  ne  veux  pas  dire,  monsieur,  je  dis,  mon 
ami.'  Another  said,  only  a  few  nights  ago,  at  Montmartre, 
'  You  must  often  be  very  tired  at  nights  ;  but  I  should  think 
that  your  sleep  is  very  sweet  afterwards,  when  you  reflect  that 
you  have  spent  the  day  in  trying  to  do  good  to  us  French 
people.'" 

One  prizes,  and  likes  to  preserve  these  fragments 
thus  picked  up,  and  presented  to  us  in  reports. 
To  many  of  my  readers,  I  am  sure  these  notes  will 
be  quite  new ;  for  the  reports  of  the  Mission's  early 
years  are  quite  out  of  print ;  and  besides  it  is  only 
recently  that  a  large  portion  of  the  public  has  really 
beo^unTto  be  interested  in  the  work. 

The  modest  undemonstrative  way  in  which  the 
Gospel  bas  entered  Paris  and  taken  possession  of 


96  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

the  strongholds  of  evil  has  sometimes  made  us 
wonder.  In  Reformation  days  all  was  different. 
It  aroused  the  priesthood ;  it  alarmed  the  court ; 
it  stirred  the  whole  city ;  it  led  to  imprisonment, 
banishment,  death.  Berquin,  Lefevre,  Farel,  Calvin 
cannot  be  tolerated.  They  must  flee  or  die.  *'  It  is 
hardly  possible,"  writes  Roussel  to  Farel,  "  without 
peril  of  life,  to  confess  Christ  purely."  Berquin  is 
arrested,  set  free,  and  again  arrested,  because  he 
preached,  in  the  cottages  of  his  estate,  salva- 
tion by  Christ  alone.  With  the  Testament  in  his 
hand,  he  wanders  over  the  country  round  Abbeville, 
the  banks  of  the  Somme,  the  towns,  manors,  and 
fields  of  Artois  and  Picardy,  scattering  the  seed  of 
the  "Word.  "  Faith  alone  justifies  "  is  his  watch- 
word. That  is  his  condemnation.  He  must  go 
to  the  stake.  Margaret  of  Navarre  may  interfere, 
and  the  evangelist  may  be  set  free, — but  it  is  only 
for  a  season. 

In  those  days  the  Gospel  raised  commotions  every- 
where,— chiefly  because  the  priesthood  was  in  power, 
and  the  Pope  could  order  kings  to  exterminate 
heresy.  At  present  it  raises  no  tumult ;  yet  it  is 
the  same  Gospel  and  the  same  Bible  with  which 
our  modern  evangelists  are  going  forth.  The  spirit 
of  the  age  is  against  priestcraft;  and  that  spirit, 
though  often  identified  with  unbelief,  is,  at  present 


Wider  Expansion.  97 

at  least,  fairer  and  more  tolerant.  Thus  "  the 
earth  helps  the  woman,"  and  swallows  up  the  flood, 
which  otherwise  would  have  swept  away  the  truth 
and  its  witnesses.  The  entrance  of  the  Gospel,  in 
this  peaceful  way,  is  matter  of  congratulation.  No 
Christian  man  in  preaching  the  Gospel  wishes  to 
raise  a  tumult;  and  he  is  thankful  when  the  Word 
goes  upon  its  way,  and  accomplishes  its  end  with- 
out noise  or  opposition.  The  history  of  the  past 
eight  years  is  an  interesting  study  in  this  respect. 
God  has  smoothed  the  way  for  His  quiet,  trustful 
messengers. 

It  was  well  that  this  movement  came  from 
England,  whose  sympathy  with  the  suffering  Par- 
isians had  nobly  shown  itself,  when,  as  soon  as 
the  siege  was  raised,  she  poured  into  the  city 
her  ample  stores.  The  Parisian  priesthood  had 
taken  care  to  lay  up  against  the  evil  day;  and 
were  feasting  on  their  hoarded  luxuries,  when  the 
citizens  were  starving.  This  vv^as  one  thing  which 
favoured  the  Gospel,  But  its  coming  from  Eng- 
land favoured  it  still  more.  Dr.  Merle  d'Aubisrne 
has  remarked  :  *'  Strasburg  is  the  main  bridge  by 
which  German  ideas  enter  France,  and  French 
ideas  make  their  way  into  Germany."'"  But 
had  the  Gospel  crossed  from  the  right  to  the  left 

*  *'  Reformation  in  the  Time  of  Calvin,"  vol.  i.  p.  455. 

H 


98  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

bank  of  the  Rhine  in  1872  ;  in  other  words,  had 
it  come  to  Paris  from  Germany,  it  would  certainly 
have  been  rejected.  It  came,  however,  in  God's 
gracious  providence,  from  England,  and  was  wel- 
comed. For  England,  once  an  enemy,  was  now 
the  friend  of  France,  and  had  helped  her  in  the 
day  of  her  calamity.  Thus  God,  when  He  purposes 
to  send  to  a  people  the  Gospel  of  His  grace, 
removes  barriers,  and  disarms  resistance.  Every- 
thing had  failed  to  meet  the  atheism  and  sacer- 
dotalism and  licentiousness  of  France ;  the  tidings 
of  His  own  free  love  in  Christ  had  not  yet  been 
tried.  He  sent  them,  and  like  the  breath  of  spring, 
they  found  their  way  into  the  great  metropolis  of 
pleasure  and  unbelief. 

Perhaps  M.  Renan  would  say  that  this  only  shows 
French  "  facility  for  embracing  noble  chimeras." 
Be  it  so.  A  "  nohle  chimera  "  may  be  worth  trying, 
in  a  city  where  so  many  ignoble  ones  have  come 
and  gone,  without  producing  anything  save  social 
disorder  and  national  adversity.  That  which  a 
sceptic  may  deem  a  chimera  or  an  illusion  may 
prove  to  be  a  revelation  from  God; — not  a  new 
revelation,  but  the  old  revelation  of  His  own  free  love 
in  the  gift  of  His  Son  to  man. 

The  vital  forces  which  are  now  at  work  in  Paris 
are    those    of  which    the    "brilliant    Frenchman" 


Wider  Expansion.  99 

knows  nothing,  and  which  his  fellow- Academicians 
would  not  take  into  their  calculations  in  forecasting 
the  prospects  of  their  country.  Yet  there  they  are : 
— not  destructive,  but  constructive ;  not  explosive, 
but  cementive  ;  silently  telling  upon  thousands  ; — 
directly  on  many,  indirectly  on  many  more  ; — more 
likely  to  ''  create  great  men,  and  to  cast  medallions 
that  will  go  down  to  posterity "  than  those  which 
philosophy  has  tried  for  a  century  and  more. 
"  Good  humour  in  facing  death  "  is  the  utmost  of  a 
scientific  death-bed ;  but  the  life-message,  now 
spreading  through  Paris,  professes  to  give  more  than 
this.  The  savoiv  vivre  which  the  Gospel  produces 
is  not  frivolity  or  self-indulgence;  not  the  (3lo^ 
d^iO)To<;  of  the  worldling ;  not  the  "Let  us  eat  and 
drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die "  of  the  sensualist ; 
but  the  tranquil  earnestness  of  him  who  spoke  but 
what  he  lived, — "  None  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and 
no  man  dieth  to  himself;  for  whether  we  live  we  live 
unto  the  Lord,  and  whether  we  die  we  die  unto  the 
Lord."  M.  Renan  may  announce  to  the  Academy 
that  "  reason  triumphs  over  death  ; "  but,  when  he 
was  making  this  boast,  the  ouvriers  of  Paris  were,  in 
their  simplicity,  listening  to  a  Gospel  which  provides 
a  surer  victory.  He  may  point  to  the  Academy  as 
the  regenerator  of  France,  and  assure  his  fellow- 
Academicians  that  "  for  a  long  time  to  come  they 


lOO  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

alone  will  be  able  to  utter  the  phrases  that  deserve 
to  live  for  ever;"  but  a  process  is  meanwhile  going 
on  which  will  introduce  new  phrases  which  may 
live  as  long  as  these.  He  may  be  convinced  that 
the  "  collaboration  "  of  the  Academy  is  necessary  for 
all  that  is  glorious ; — ''  for  of  that  which  is  done 
without  the  aid  of  the  Athenians  glory  takes  no 
heed ;  " — but  there  is  such  a  thing  as  "  the  foolish- 
ness of  preaching,"  and  it  is  mightier  than  the 
wisdom  of  Athens  or  of  Paris.  The  M'All  Mission 
and  the  "  collaboration  "  of  the  Academy  are  very 
different  things ;  but  there  is  a  power  in  the  former 
which  the  latter  knows  not, — the  power  of  moving 
souls,  and  ''  softening  human  rock-work  into  men."  '" 

*  The  references  in  these  closing  paragraphs  are  to  M.  Eenan's 
recent  address  (April,  1879)  to  the  French  Academy,  in  which  he 
pronounced  a  eulogy  on  M.  Claude  Bernard,  whom  he  was  chosen 
to  succeed. 


-^^^^^^If^^^ 


The  Third  Year  and  its  hicidents.      loi 


CHAPTER  Y. 

THE  THIRD  YEAR  AND  ITS  INCIDENTS. 

tHUS  writes  a  modern  author  some  fifty  years 
ago  : — "  One  should  conquer  the  world,  not  to 
enthrone  a  name  but  an  idea;  for  ideas  exist  for  ever; 
amid  the  wreck  of  creeds,  the  crash  of  empires, 
French  revolutions,  English  reforms,  Catholicism  in 
agony,  Protestantism  in  convulsions,  discordant 
Europe  demands  the  key-note  which  none  can 
sound." 

The  enthronisation  of  an  "  idea "  might  be  no 
better  than  that  of  a  "  name," — unless  the  ^'  idea  " 
were  worth  enthroning, — in  other  words,  unless  it 
were  Divine.  What  Europe  wants  is  certainly  a 
"key-note;"  but  we  are  not  prepared  to  add  "which 
none  can  sound."  It  has  often  been  sounded ;  and 
Europe  has  treated  it  as  the  idle  wind.  It  is  now 
sounded  again,  whether  men  will  hear  or  whether 
they  will  forbear.  That  key-note  came  forth  from 
the  cross  1800  years  ago;   and  it  is  still  as  definite 


I02  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

as  ever, — "  Through  this  Man  is  preached  unto  you 
the  forgiveness  of  sins."  It  was  this  key-note  which 
"  discordant  "  Paris  demanded ;  and  it  is  this  that  is 
now  sounding  through  its  boulevards  and  faubourgs, 
touching  the  hearts  of  thousands. 

The  good  news  of  one  who,  while  He  hates  the  sin, 
loves  the  sinner,  and  has  no  pleasure  in  his  death; 
who  spared  not  His  Son  that  He  might  spare  even 
the  worst  criminal  that  breathes  the  air,  not  of 
France  only,  but  of  the  earth ;  who  sends  down  from 
His  throne  His  free  absolution  to  every  one  who 
believeth,  independent  of  Church  or  priesthood,  and 
without  regard  either  to  merit  or  money; — this  is 
the  key-note  which  has  been  sounded  in  Paris,  and 
which  hundreds  are  recognising  as  the  one  great 
"  idea  "  which  "  exists  for  ever,"  and  by  the  recep- 
tion of  which  the  discordant  elements  of  broken 
humanity  are  to  be  re-knit  in  abiding  gladness. 

The  third  year's  report  (1874)  shows  us  how 
all  this  is  beginning  to  be  realised,  and  how  the 
Gospel  is  continuing  to  tell.  Paris  is  learning,  not 
only  that  there  is  a  God  and  a  Christ  ;  but  that 
*'God  is  love,"  and  that  this  Christ  is  "the  Saviour 
of  the  world." 

A  striking  letter  of  the  Sorbonne  Professor, 
M.  Rosseeuw  St.  Hilaire,  prefaces  the  report;  and 
this  document  is  too  valuable  not  to  be  preserved 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     103 

entire.     It  is  dated  "  Paris,  10th  Deer,,  1874,"  and 
runs  thus  : — 

"  Like  the  Eev.  Thomas  Binney,  I  am  happy  to  be  called  to 
record  my  testimony  in  favour  of  a  work  with  which  every 
Christian  in  France  ought  to  account  it  a  privilege  to  associate 
himself,  in  rendering  to  its  excellent  founder,  the  Eev.  R.  AV. 
M^AU,  the  tribute  of  gratitude  and  affection.  As  a  humble 
but  devoted  fellow-labourer,  during  more  than  a  year  in  this 
blessed  work,  to  which  it  has  pleased  God  to  grant  a  success 
surpassing  all  that  we  had  ventured  to  hope  for,  it  is  possible 
that  I  am  so  placed  as  to  be  able  more  fully  than  many  others 
to  appreciate  the  ever-growing  sympathy  with  which  simple 
gospel  appeals  are  received  among  our  people,  a  people  so  easy 
to  attract,  so  difficult  to  hold  steadfast.  That  which  astonishes 
me  in  this  work,  which  no  one  could  have  ventured  to  imagine 
jDOSsible  before  our  disasters,  but  which  has  found  hearts 
prepared  to  respond  to  its  appeals,  is  not  its  success,  nor  its 
extension,  but  its  permanence.  Not  that  we  delude  ourselves 
by  building  too  much  upon  the  results  already  reahsed.  While 
seeing  these  listeners  so  intent,  so  sympathetic,  drinking  in  so 
eagerly  the  words  addressed  to  them,  we  have  need  often  to 
remember  that,  among  all  these  grains,  so  largely  spread,  a 
large  x^ortion  will  be  stifled  among  the  tliorns  or  trodden  under 
foot  by  the  passers-by.  What  have  we  to  do  with  that  ?  We 
are  sowers,  not  reapers.  A  large  number  of  these  grains  have, 
beyond  doubt,  fallen  into  the  good'  ground.  Shall  we  the  less 
praise  our  Lord  if  it  shall  be  given  to  others  to  enter  into  our 
labours,  and  there,  where  we  have  sown  in  tears,  to  reap  with 
songs  of  triumph  % 

"  Our  excellent  brother,  Mr.  M'All,  has  laid  before  his 
brethren  in  Britain,  with  courageous  frankness,  the  ever- 
increasing  exigences  of  his  work.  These  needs  increase 
with  the  success.  Can  we  be  surprised  at  this,  or  shall  we 
complain  of  it  ? 


I04  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  Side  by  side  with  'ces  bons  anglais,'  as  the  people  style  them 
in  our  suburbs,  there  is  need  also  of  Frenchmen,  to  speak  from 
a  closer  acquaintance  with  them,  to  a  French  auditory.  In 
addition  to  the  one  or  two  evangelists  sustained  by  this  English 
mission,  and  who  fulfil  their  work  with  devotion  and  success, 
there  is  need  also  for  volunteers  from  among  the  laity  ;  for  the 
pastors  of  Paris  are  too  much  pre-engaged  to  take  a  part  regu- 
larly in  this  work,  which  has,  however,  their  entire  sympathy. 
There  is  need  for,  at  least,  one  such  helper  for  each  station  ; 
and  we  are,  in  all,  three — I  say  it  with  shame  and  grief — three 
in  this  vast  city  ;  and  of  these  three,  two,  including  the  writer, 
are  now,  through  having  spoken  beyond  their  strength,  forced 
to  be  silent.  This  state  of  things  cannot  go  onward.  With  the 
eleventh  station,  which  has  just  been  opened,  the  need  for 
further  aid,  especially  paid  and  regular,  makes  itself  felt  more 
and  more  every  day.  The  Lord  sent  recently  to  Mr.  M'All  two 
most  valuable  and  devoted  auxiliaries,  who  could  replace  the 
two  volunteers  laid  aside  by  illness,  but,  in  order  that  their 
time  and  strength  might  be  wholly  given  to  the  work,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  provide  them  with  the  means  of  sup- 
port ;  and  the  present  state  of  the  mission  fund  does  not  allow 
of  this. 

"  Hence,  as  a  French  Christian,  quite  ready  to  return  to  the 
duties  of  this  admirable  work  so  soon  as  God  permits  me,  I 
venture  to  address  myself  to  my  dear  brethren,  the  Christians 
of  Britain,  whose  liberality  I  have  many  times  proved,  in  order 
to  urge  them  to  put  forth  a  new  effort  to  sustain  this  work, 
which  has  a  place  in  tlieir  hearts  and  in  their  prayers.  God 
grants  us  success.  Do  you,  then,  dear  brethren,  give  us  the 
material  help  we  need,  and  you  will  thus  be  workers  together 
with  God  in  this  work,  which  spreads  from  day  to  day.  This 
will  form  an  additional  link  between  our  two  countries,  which 
political  events  might,  in  a  measure,  estrange,  but  which  faith 
in  Christ  would  unite.  It  is  to  you  that  we  already  owe  our 
Revival  of  1830,  which  came  from  London  to  Paris  by  way  of 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     105 

Geneva,  in  wMcli  city  the  excellent  Robert  Haldane  was  tlie 
means  of  introducing  it.  May  it  be  that  we  shall  owe,  on  this 
occasion,  to  Britain,  thanks  to  the  courageous  initiative  of  our 
dear  brother,  Mr.  M'All,  a  second  Eevival,  at  once  more  deep 
and  more  durable,  which  shall  live  after  all  those  who  initiated 
it  have  passed  away  !  " 

After  stating  that  the  numbers  in  regular  attend- 
ance at  the  adult  meetings  have  averaged  2000  per 
week,  and  at  the  juvenile  gatherings  five  or  six 
hundred,  Mr.  M'All  gives  us  some  curious  bits  of 
intelligence  as  to  the  increasing  appreciation  of  his 
meetings  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  ;  and  this 
after  a  strict  official  inquiry.  I  confess  that  the 
following  paragraph  is  to  me  singularly  satisfactory, 
and  I  am  persuaded  that  every  reader  of  it  will 
think  along  with  me  in  this  : — 

"  We  have  not  been  without  anxieties.  From  the  beginning, 
we  have  sought  most  carefully  to  avoid  all  rehgious  contro- 
versy, as  required  by  our  authorisation  from  the  Government. 
Yet,  during  the  spring,  an  attempt  was  made  to  represent  us 
as  having  'departed  from  this  rule.  The  result  was  a  strict 
official  scrutiny  of  all  our  meetings  ;.but  the  inquiry  was  con- 
ducted with  the  utmost  courtesy,  and  led  to  a  most  satisfactory 
issue.  One  officer  said,  '  I  admire  your  large  announcements 
[the  calico  signs  indicating  our  mission-rooms].  You  bid 
every  one  welcome  to  know  what  you  are  doing.  There  can- 
not be  too  many  such  places  :  you  will  render  good  service  to 
Paris  by  multiplying  them  as  much  as  possible.'  In  another 
instance,  a  Commissaire  de  Police,  in  whose  district  we  were 
about  to  open  a  station,  said,  '  I  have  just  seen  my  brother- 
officer  at  M [a  distant  part  of  the  town  where  we  had 


io6  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

been  at  work  more  than  two  years],  and  he  told  me  everything 
respecting  your  good  work.  I  shall  rejoice  to  aid  you  to  the 
utmost  of  my  ability.'  The  words  of  another  Commissaire, 
only  a  few  days  ago,  were  truly  striking  :  '  Your  undertaking 
has  my  entire  sympathy,  and  I  heartily  wish  you  success.  You 
will  find  it  very  difficult,  the  ouvriers  are  so  little  disposed  to 
care  for  what  is  good.  Still,  amidst  so  vast  a  population,  some, 
happily,  are  open  to  better  influences.  You  cannot  do  all  the 
good  you  would  desire,  I  am  sure.  God  will  do  the  rest.  You 
will  always  find  me  ready  to  aid  you  in  any  way  within  my 
power.' " 

Into  several  of  the  details  of  this  report  I  need 
not  enter.  They  all  indicate  progress.  New 
stations  opened,  and  old  ones  enlarged;  new 
workers  brought  into  the  field;  Sabbath  schools 
established ;  weekly  prayer  meetings  set  on  foot ; 
the  zealous  co-operation  of  the  professors  and 
students  of  the  Ecole  Preparatoire  de  Theologie; 
number  of  sittings  raised  from  1056  to  1610; 
soldiers'  meetings ;  efforts  to  reach  the  students  of 
the  University  of  Paris  by  means  of  special  services  ; 
pecuniary  aid  from  societies  and  private  friends,  and 
specially  the  Missionary  Association  of  the  American 
Chapel ;  plans  for  the  occupation  of  new  districts ; — 
these  are  some  of  the  cheering  news  which  the 
report  contains ;  but  on  which  we  cannot  dwell. 
Not  only  are  Bible  classes  set  a-going;  but  classes 
(six  in  number)  for  teaching  English  to  the  w^orkmen  ; 
so  that  there  is  not  any  branch  of  missionary  work, 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     107 

either  among   old  or  young,   which  has  not   been 
considered  and  carried  out. 

All  kinds  of  workmen,  skilled  and  unskilled,  are 
coming  under  the  influence  of  the  Bible ;  and  the 
Scripture  "  portions "  distributed  in  the  halls  are 
producing  their  genuine  results.  A  journeyman  of 
Belleville  who  had  received  these  portions  thus 
writes  to  Mr.  M'All  from  Marseilles  in  January, 
1874: — ''I  did  my  very  utmost  to  make  myself 
religious,  but  I  did  not  know  or  understand  the 
love  of  Jesus  Christ  for  sinners.  Since  I  have  ex- 
perienced the  blessedness  of  going  to  Jesus  I  am  no 
longer  the  same  man  as  before.  Oh  that  all  who 
attend  your  meetings  might  be  penetrated  by  a 
sense  of  the  blessedness  that  is  to  be  found  in  going 
to  Jesus.  I  tlianh  God  for  the  unsioeaJmhle  good- 
ness which  He  has  shoiun  to  so  onany  of  my  fellow- 
luorkmen  who  have  learned  in  your  meetings  to 
know  Jesus  Christy  His  divine  Son."  The  testi- 
mony which  this  workman  gives  as  to  the  numbers 
of  ouvriers  who  have  been  impressed  is  very  re- 
markable. He  writes  as  one  who  knew  the  facts, 
and  had  come  in  contact  with  the  converts  :  and 
who  can  speak  of  the  genuineness  of  the  change 
wrought  in  them.  His  letter  thus  gives  the  idea 
of  a  much  larger  circle  being  impressed  than  could 
be  known  to  Mr.  M'All  and  his  fellow-labourers; 


io8  TJie  White  Fields  of  France. 

and  the  one  sentence  which  I  have  italicised  con- 
tains a  piece  of  good  news  whose  value  it  is  not 
easy  to  over-estimate  :  for  it  shows  that  the  Mission 
is  not  one  of  show,  or  talk,  or  bustle,  but  a  truly 
evangelical  enterprise  accomplishing  a  spiritual  end. 
The  above  sentence  in  the  painter's  letter  is  all  the 
more  remarkable,  because  when  he  first  went  to 
Mr.  M'All's  Belleville  room  he  said  that  he  had 
been  told  that  the  society  was  one  for  providing 
work  for  the  unemployed.  The  true  aim  of  the 
Mission  was  explained  to  him,  and  he  was  led  no 
longer  to  "  labour  for  the  meat  which  perisheth,  but 
for  that  which  endure th  unto  everlasting  life."  He 
came  for  the  earthly ;  he  found  the  heavenly ;  though 
destitute,  he  asked  no  pecuniary  relief;  and  when 
a  small  sum  was  given  him  to  pay  the  entrance  fee 
of  a  workman's  registration  society,  he  returned  it  as 
soon  as  he  had  got  work. 

The  young  soldier  already  mentioned  has  had 
trials  to  undergo  from  family  opposition ;  but  he 
thus  writes,  as  one  who  has  found  his  portion  in 
Christ : — "  It  was  only  in  Paris  when  I  met  you  on 
my  way,  and  heard  you  speak  at  Grenelle,  that  I 
found  what  my  soul  had  long  been  seeking ;  and  I 
resolved  this  very  evening  to  write  and  tell  you  of 
my  joy.  I  thank  the  Lord  for  having  put  you  in 
my  way  to  show  me  the  truth,  and  I  pray  Him  to 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incideitts.     109 

give  you  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  other  stray  sheep 
return  to  the  fold." 

A  young  married  woman  came  to  La  Chapelle  to 
purchase  a  large-sized  Bible,  that  she  and  her  family 
might  read  the  Word  with  ease.  They  were  poor, 
and  the  price  was  beyond  their  means.  A  kind 
English  visitor  made  them  a  gift  of  one.  A  few 
weeks  passed,  and  the  wife,  at  the  close  of  a  meeting, 
asked  an  interview  with  Mr.  M'All.  Speaking  to  the 
friends  engaged  in  the  work,  she  said,  "  It  is  to  you 
that  I  am  indebted  for  the  knowledge  of  my  Saviour ; 
and  my  husband  thinks  with  me.  Oh,  the  gift  of 
that  precious  Book  !  I  assure  you  we  have  made  a 
good  use  of  it :  we  read  it  together  every  day."  This 
worthy  couple  have  given  up  Sunday  work.  No 
easy  step  for  a  Paris  ouvrier.  Soon  after  the  wife 
was  taken  ill,  and  taken  to  the  hospital.  While 
there  she  took  every  occasion  to  speak  a  word  for 
Christ  to  her  fellow-sufferers,  so  that  one  of  them, 
at  least,  was  led  to  become  a  diligent  reader  of  the 
Bible.  Soon  after  her  husband  wrote  a  beautiful 
letter  to  Mr.  M'All,  and  makes  the  following  state- 
ment, which  shows  most  forcibly  the  spiritual 
benefits  of  the  Mission  as  having  for  its  object 
nothing  less  than  deliverance  from  darkness  into 
light :  "I  am  so  thoroughly  convinced  that  if  you 
had  not  come  to  Paris  I   should  still  have  been  in 


I  lo  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

darkness,  that  it  was  impossible  for  me  not  to  respond 
to  your  touching  appeal  yesterday  evening."  He 
had  been  asked  to  give  his  testimony  at  the  Annual 
Social  Meeting  at  La  Chapelle.  ''  Gladly  would  I 
have  spoken,  but  my  emotion  was  so  intense  that  I 
could  only  weep.  I  know  that  I  am  nothing  in 
myself;  but  I  know  also  that  I  can  do  all  things 
through  Christ.  Would  that  I  could  make  all 
young  men  who  are  about  to  marry  understand  that 
by  taking  the  Bible  as  their  household  book,  they 
will  have  peace  in  their  daily  life,  and  the  peace  of 
God  in  the  soul.  I  wish  that  I  could  be  useful  to 
you  in  a  work  so  great,  so  good,  so  noble,  that  you 
have  commenced  in  this  unhappy  town  of  Paris. 
After  our  disasters,  the  people  were  full  of  mutual 
hatred;  but  through  your  efforts  we  have  been 
regenerated,  and  have  gained  knowledge  of  the 
salvation  which  is  by  grace.  We  know  that  Christ 
has  done  all  things  for  us,  so  that  our  life  should  be 
a  testimony  of  gratitude  and  love  for  the  benefits 
we  have  received  from  our  Saviour.  We  rejoice  to 
know  that  we  are  not  the  only  ones  whom  the  Lord 
has  taken  out  of  darkness  to  make  them  children  of 
light.  You  cannot  see  all  the  fruits  of  your  labours  ; 
but  we  see  them,  and  God  sees  them."  The  room 
in  the  Boulevard  Ornano  he  regards  as  his  birth- 
place;   and    the  first   meeting  there  his  birthday. 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents,     1 1 1 

or  at  least  as  the  turning-point  in  his  spiritual 
history.  At  another  time  he  said  :  "  My  anniversary 
will  soon  be  here  [the  day  of  his  coming  to  the  first 
meeting] ;  and  I  shall  bring  you  such  a  lovely 
bouquet  of  flowers  on  that  day," — meaning  the 
love  and  gratitude  of  his  heart  to  God ;  and  as  he 
spoke  he  made  a  circle  with  his  arms  as  if  to  gather 
up  within  it  a  multitude  of  flowers. 

In  such  a  Mission  it  is  not  the  great  outline 
of  work  that  really  exhibits  its  character ;  nor  the 
full  statistics  of  numbers,  names,  places ;  nor  the 
list  of  subscriptions ;  nor  the  references  to  kind  and 
generous  friends.  The  true  illustrations  are  the 
incidents  which  are  occurring  from  day  to  day ;  the 
little  questions  put  or  remarks  made,  by  those  who 
have  been  gathered  in,  or  are  but  inquiring  the  way. 
The  speeches  at  public  meetings  or  anniversaries 
often,  we  confess,  weary  us,  especially  when  the 
speaker  substitutes  general  declamation  or  well- 
meant  appeal  for  facts.  But  when  a  man  gets  up 
who  has  been  upon  the  spot ;  who  knows  his  subject 
well;  who  has  facts  at  his  finger  ends  without 
number, — then  we  are  all  ear  and  eye.  It  is  the 
facts  and  incidents  that  we  watch  for;  and  it  is  on 
them  that  we  found  our  judgment  as  to  the  worthi- 
ness of  the  cause.  Little  details  or  casual  words  or 
trivial   conversations,   which   at    the   time   perhaps 


112  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

hardly  made  an  impression;  when  related  simply 
and  without  painting,  in  their  proper  connection, 
are  the  irresistible  eloquence  that  brings  the  reader  or 
the  hearer  into  truest  sympathy  with  the  work  pleaded 
for.  It  is  on  this  account  that  I  give,  almost  in  full, 
the  following  pages  of  the  report,  asking  special 
attention  to  them.  I  am  not  trying  to  make  up  a 
book  by  copying  extracts  to  fill  vacant  pages.  I 
am  rather  abridging  and  condensing.  But  I  should 
be  doing  injustice  to  the  cause  I  advocate  if  I  did 
not  print  in  full  such  incidents  as  the  following"': — 
"  More  than  two  years  ago,  an  old  man  formerly  in  the  French 

*  I  add  in  a  note  the  following  paragraph  regarding  the  periodicals 
supplied  by  generous  friends  : — 

"  Could  the  zealous  promoters  of  the  religious  magazines  L'Ami 
de  la  Maison,  L'Ami  de  la  Jeunesse,  &c.,  be  witnesses  of  the  great 
interest  and  pleasure  awakened  when  these  publications  are  lent  to 
the  people  to  read  on  entering  our  rooms,  before  the  meetings  begin, 
they  would  be  greatly  encouraged.  Omnibus  conductors  also,  the 
keepers  of  bureaux,  &c,,  on  receiving  one  of  the  numbers  of  the 
admirably  conducted  ^ Amide  la  Maison,''  have  repeatedly,  at  the 
end  of  a  ride,  pointed  out  passages  which  had  struck  them  with 
admiration.  In  various  directions,  these  men  look  out  for  us,  hoping 
for  some  small  addition  to  their  store  of  these  publications.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  over-estimate  the  benefit  which,  under  God,  the  very 
wide  circulation  of  such  a  magazine  would  produce.  Copies  of  the 
*  Almanack  des  Publications  Populaires,^  supplied  to  us  by  the  Society 
of  Friends,  have  also  been  received  everywhere  with  marked  eager- 
ness. The  committees  of  the  Religious  Tract  Society,  the  Soci^t^ 
des  Livres  Religieux  de  Toulouse,  the  Socidtd  des  Trait^s  Religieux 
de  Paris,  and  others  who  have  supplied  books  for  our  lending  libraries, 
may  rest  assured  that  the  volumes  thus  kindly  suppHed  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  a  large  number  of  attentive  readers." 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     1 1 3 

marine  service,  commenced  attendance  at  tlie  Boulevard  Ornano. 
He  was  then  gloomy  and  dejected,  and  dissatisfied  with  his 
small  earnings.  He  has  been  a  most  diligent  hearer  ever  since. 
Not  long  ago,  one  of  our  friends  remarked  to  him,  '  You  seem 
quite  contented  and  cheerful  now.'  '  Yes,'  said  he,  '  I  am  as 
merry  as  a  lark.'  '  How  comes  that  ?  Is  it  that  you  have  a 
better  employ,  so  as  to  gain  more  money  ] '  '  Oh  no,'  he 
replied,  '  I  am  in  the  very  same  place,  and  do  not  gain  a  centime 
more.  But  since  I  came  to  the  meetings  I  have  found  peace  of 
mind  ;  now  I  am  content,  everything  goes  well  with  me.' 

"  After  a  recent  service  at  the  Boulevard  Ornano,  at  which 
Pastor  Theodore  Monod  had  spoken,  a  young  ouvrier,  who  often 
walks  from  the  village  of  Pantin  (several  miles  distant)  to  attend 
the  meeting,  warmly  expressed  to  us  his  thankfulness  and  joy. 
Some  Christian  ladies  who  stood  by  said,  '  Mr.  M'All,  you  do 
not  know  what  this  young  man  does  when  he  gets  home.  His 
old,  infirm  mother  lives  with  him,  and  he  tries  to  repeat  to  her 
as  mucli  as  possible  of  what  he  has  heard.'  This  was  a  striking 
testimony  concerning  one  who,  until  a  few  months  ago,  when 
he  commenced  attendance  at  our  room  in  his  own  neighbour- 
hood, was  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the  Gospel. 

"  At  our  Faubourg  St.  Antoine  station,  we  had  remarked  the 
deep  attention  of  an  ouvrier  and  his  wife.  We  learned  from 
them  that  they  had  received  lasting  convictions  in  that  room. 
During  the  summer,  they  had  to  leave  Paris  for  Lorraine,  but 
promised  to  write.  The  following  expressions  are  selected  from 
the  wife's  letter  : — '  We  have  not  forgotten  the  good  words 
which  it  was  our  privilege  to  hear  in  your  meetings,  and  which 
have  often  strengthened  and  consoled  us.  We  read  often  in 
the  large  book  [Bible]  which  you  presented  to  us,  and  we 
contemplate  with  joy  the  goodness  of  God  to  man,  and  we  pray 
to  Him  to  remember  us  in  mercy  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.  I  go 
back  in  imagination  to  the  days  and  hours  of  your  reunions  of 
Faubourg  St.  Antoine,  and  I  sing  sometimes  the  hymns  I  there 
learned.     I  pray  God  to  preserve  your  life  and  health  for  the 

I 


1 14  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

welfare  and  salvation  of  other  poor  sinners  like  me,  for  you  have 
brought  me  to  know  the  way  which,  for  long  years,  my  heart 
had  desired  to  know.  If  we  never  see  each  other  again  in  this 
world,  I  have  full  confidence  that  we  shall  meet  in  heaven 
through  my  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  In  some  instances,  the  hearts  of  persons  in  another  class 
than  that  especially  aimed  at  have,  through  Divine  influence, 
been  reached  in  our  meetings.  One  Sunday  evening  in  the 
spring,  a  lady,  among  whose  relatives  are  some  ecclesiastical 

dignitaries,  entered,  for  the  first  time,  the room,  led  there  by 

a  young  friend  already  an  attendant.  Pastor  Theodore  Monod 
conducted  the  meeting.  His  theme  was  salvation  without 
money  and  without  price.  This  came  ujDon  her  as  a  new  dis- 
covery. After  the  service,  she  said  to  her  friends,  'This  is 
excellent,  this  is  delightful ;  and  what  is  more,  it  seems  to  me  to 
agree  with  the  Bible  :  but  how  can  I  get  hold  of  it  for  myself  ? ' 
'  Madame [one  of  our  valued  workers]  will  explain  every- 
thing to  you.'  By  Divine  help  she  did  so.  The  lady  wrote 
in  the  summer  to  Mrs.  M'AU, '  I  now  find  myself  happy  beyond 
all  expression.'  We  had  the  privilege  of  uniting  with  her  and 
her  young  friend  in  the  communion  at  M.  Monod's  chapel. 

"A  household,  comprising   the  principals  and  one  or  two 

business  assistants,  frequenting  the  station,  has  afforded 

us  much  joy.  We  have  great  hope  of  several  of  the  members  ; 
but  the  mistress  has  avowed  that  she  has  found  the  Saviour. 
The  first  decided  indication  of  serious  thought  was  to  purchase 
the  Bible,  which  she  read  with  eager  interest.  After  a  period 
of  doubt  and  anxiety,  a  few  extremely  simple  words,  spoken  by 
us  at  the  close  of  an  address,  brought  rest  to  her  spirit.  The 
words  were:  'AUez  a  J^sus-Christ.  Allez  a  lui  maintenant. 
AUez  a  lui  seul.'  During  a  time  of  affliction,  she  said  to  one  of 
our  visitors,  '  0  come,  let  us  return  thanks  to  God  together  ;  for 
now  I  come  to  His  Word  to  answer  all  my  questions.'  Again 
and  again  she  and  her  household  have  testified,  '  Since  coming 
to  the  reunions,  everything  is  completely  changed  with  us  ; 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incide^its.     1 1 5 

everything  now  is  peaceful  and  happy.'  A  pleasing  evidence  of 
their  sense  of  the  value  of  salvation  is  afforded  in  their  anxiety 
to  aid  us,  so  far  as  in  their  power,  in  working  for  the  benefit  of 
others. 

"  One  of  our  excellent  visitors  bears  the  following  testimony : — 
'  Several  of  the  dear  friends  who  have  received  the  Gospel  at 

and   are  now  in   our   congregation   [Lutheran]  ; 

and  I  rejoice  to  testify  that  they  are  among  the  most  spiritual 
and  active  members  of  the  Church.' 

"An  intelligent  Christian  ouvrier  connected  with  the  railway, 
bore  this  testimony,  some  months  ago,  respecting  general  results: 
— '  I,  as  an  ouvrier,  know  well  the  ouvriers  of  Montmartre. 
After  more  than  two  years  during  which  I  have  frequented 
the  reunions  of  Boulevard  Ornano,  I  can  testify  that  a  large 
number  of  men  who,  at  first,  came  merely  to  pass  an  hour, 
many  of  them  disbelieving  or  even  secretly  mocking  at  religion, 
have  become  croyants '  (convinced  of  the  truth  and  reality  of 
the  Gospel). 

"Another  pleasing  testimony  from  an  ouvrier  of  Menilmon- 
tant,  who  has  attended  almost  from  the  beginning,  was  this: — 
'  You  have  taught  us  Frenchmen  some  great  lessons,  things 
which  we  could  not  have  believed  possible.'  '  What  things?' 
'  We  used  to  imagine  that  the  English  were  egotists,  and  that 
they  had  proud,  unbrotherly  feelings  towards  us.  Now  we 
find,  on  the  contrary,  that  they  are  willing  to  leave  their 
country  and  encounter  hardship  in  order  to  lead  us  Frenchmen 
to  Jesus.'  Lately,  on  a  damj),  wintry  day,  we  remarked  to 
him,  '  Mais  vous  voyez  que  nous  autres  anglais  nous  avons 
emporte  avec  nous  chezvous  ici  a  Paris  notre  brouillard  anglais.' 
*  Ah,  monsieur,'  he  replied, '  vous  avez  apporte  ici  quelque  chose 
de  mieux  que  le  brouillard  ;  le  vrai  bonheur,  la  connaissance 
d'une  verite  divine  ;  je  dois  plutot  dire,  la  bonne  nouvelle  de 
I'Evangile.'  Pleasing  words  from  one  who,  until  he  came  to 
us,  was  an  admirer  of  Penan !  The  following  words  conclude  a 
letter  just  received  from  him  : — '  My  heart  is  full,  and  longs  to 


1 16  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

utter  the  feelings  of  gratitude  wliicli  fill  it — (1.)  towards  God, 
my  one  Divine  Father,  (2.)  towards  Jesus  Christ,  my  one  Master 
and  Saviour,  (3.)  towards  the  Holy    Spirit,  the   only  true 

Comforter,  (4.)  towards  ■ ,  who  have  quitted  position, 

relatives,  friends,  country,  income,  in  order  to  come  and 
announce  to  us  the  good  news  of  the  gospel.' 

"  Again  and  again  we  have  remarked  the  wonderful  power 
attending  a  few  simple  words  of  ]3rayer,  especially  prayer  for 
those  present,  their  families,  their  daily  bread,  &c.  At  the 
Faubourg  St.  Antoine  station,  a  highly  respectable  person, 
present  for  the  first  time,  remained  to  ask  whether  we  had  a 
station  near  the  centre  of  Paris,  where  she  resided.  We  replied 
that  we  much  wished  to  open  one  there  so  soon  as  we  should 
have  the  means.  After  saying  good-bye,  she  returned.  '  May 
I  venture  to  ask  a  favour  from  you? '  she  said.  '  It  is  a  small 
thing,  and  yet  it  is  a  very  great  thing.  Pray  for  me — will 
you  % '  The  short  prayer  closing  the  meeting  had  reached  her 
heart.  Another  day,  at  the  same  station,  two  uncouth  and 
rugged  ouvriers  said,  on  leaving,  '  Thank  you  for  the  prayer  : 
I  never  heard  anything  of  that  kind  before.  You  did  not  leave 
any  of  us  out.  We  shall  come  again,  if  it  were  only  to  hear  you 
pray  to  God." 

"  A  young  man,  at  the  same  station,  when  wishing  us  good- 
bye on  returning  to  Belgium,  his  native  country,  said,  'I 
wished  to  shake  hands  with  you  before  leaving.  I  am  glad 
that  ever  I  came  here.  You  illustrate  all  that  you  say  to  us  by 
examples  tahen  from  life,  so  that  we  can  understand  it.'  He 
referred  to  the  narratives  often  introduced  in  the  addresses  and 
readings. 

"  Very  recently,  the  father  of  a  family  at  Boulevard  Ornano 
was  leaving  the  room  with  his  boy,  .who  carried  a  large  Bible 
from  our  lending  library.  Turning  to  us,  he  said,  '  I  am  really 
ashamed  to  borrow  this  book  for  the  fourth  time  [it  was  lent 
for  a  fortnight  on  each  occasion]  ;  but  my  boy  reads  it  in  the 
family  during  the  evenings.     It  is  a  book  requiring  great  study, 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     1 1 7 

and  we  try  to  find  out  the  meaning  as  well  as  we  can.  We 
make  qiiite  a  little  school  in  the  house  wlien  I  return  from  my 
work.' 

"  We  had  repeatedly  given  tracts  and  Scripture  portions  to 
a  letter-carrier  in  Belleville.  One  day  he  asked,  'Do  yon 
think  that  Mr.  M'AU  could  let  me  have  a  complete  Bible  ?  I 
do  not  wish  him  to  give  it,  I  will  buy  it.  My  little  girl  has 
learned  by  heart  many  passages  in  the  gospel  by  Luke  you 
gave  me.  I  wish  her  to  have  a  nice  copy  of  the  Bible  as  her 
owTi,  that  she  may  be  encouraged  in  the  study  of  that  good 
book.' 

"  An  intelligent  young  schoolmaster  and  his  wife,  only  a  few 
weeks  after  their  deep  interest  had  been  awakened  by  the 
opening  of  La  Chapelle  station  near  their  residence,  were 
called  away  to  a  government  appointment  in  Algeria.  They 
took  with  them  our  parting  gift  of  the  Bible,  regarding  it  as  a 
new-discovered  treasure  ! 

"The  following  words  are  from  the  letter  of  an  ouvrier 
referred  to  in  our  last  report  as  overjoyed  on  receiving  a  Bible  : — 
*  I  believe  sincerely.  In  these  hard  times,  when  work  is  so 
scarce,  I  find  satisfaction  for  all  my  daily  wants  on  repeating 
with  fervour  this  blessed  prayer,  "  Give  us  day  by  day  our  daily 
bread."  This  thought  bears  me  up,  and  gives  me  a  courage 
which  I  could  not  have  believed  possible.'  At  the  close  of  a 
meeting  at  Menilmontant,  in  the  spring,  we  were  shaking 
hands,  as  is  our  custom,  with  the  men.  To  a  negro  we  said, '  You 
and  I  are  brothers.'  The  men  arouiid  seemed  pleased,  and  the 
ouvrier  above  referred  to,  placing  his  hand  on  the  head  of  a 
comrade  whom  he  had  induced  to  accompany  him,  said,  '  Ah  ! 
Mr.  M'AU,  that  man  has  a  very  black  face,  and  we  can't  wash 
it  white  ;  but  this  man  has  an  excessively  hard  skull ;  never- 
theless, let  us  hope  that  something  good  may  be  forced  into  it. 

"  In  our  little  Sunday  school  at  Grenelle  was  a  boy  blind 
from  five  years  of  age.  He  has  since  been  removed  to  a  hos- 
pital.    He  said  to  his  teacher, '  Why  do  you  come  only  once 


1 1 8  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

a- week  to  teacli  us  ?  I  wisli  you  would  speak  to  me  every  day 
out  of  the  Bible,  that  good  book  which  I  have  never  seen.* 
Our  friends  are  teaching  English  to  some  of  the  French 
children  in  the  same  school  on  a  week  evening.  It  is  touching 
to  hear  their  voices  blending  in  such  a  hymn  as 

'  Jesus  loves  me,'  &c. 
which  they  have  learned  by  heart." 

The  annual  social  gatherings, — anniversaries  of 
the  opening  night, — were  not  forgotten ;  and  eight 
stations  during  the  year  1874  held  these  meetings, 
so  new,  yet  so  interesting  to  the  French  people ; 
so  fitted  to  teach  the  true  "equality  and  fraternity"  of 
which  hitherto  Paris  has  had  butthe  name, — the  name 
inscribed  everywhere  upon  its  public  buildings,  the 
name  which  is  on  so  many  lips  and  ^Daraded  on  so  many 
pages,  but  never  understood  as  that  which  is  brought 
to  light  in  Christ  alone, — ''One  is  your  Master,  even 
Christ,  and  ALL  YE  ARE  brethren."  At  such  social 
gatherings  as  these  every  man, — even  the  poorest 
ouvrier, — is  made  to  feel  the  meaning  of  the  Master's 
words,  *'A11  ye  are  brethren."  For  at  such  meetings, 
ranks  seem  forgotten,  or  rather  reversed.  It  is  the 
Master  who  serves  the  servant,  not  the  servant  the 
Master.  We  are  told  that,  during  this  one  year, 
1450  persons  have  taken  tea  on  these  occasions,  and 
seemed  perfectly  at  home.  The  expressions  of 
their  gratitude  were  most  touching.  At  M^nil- 
montant,   the  young   soldier  before  referred  to  re- 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     119 

marked,  on  looking  round  the  crowded  room,  "  G'est 
maintenant  comme  dans  le  premier  temips  ;  "  and 
when  asked  for  an  explanation,  replied,  ''L'Evangile 
est  annonce  aux  pauvres."  "  At  the  same  station," 
says  Mr.  M'All,  "during  the  Toussaintand  the  great 
Fete,  which  is  a  complete  Vanity  Fair,  we  held  a 
meetiDg  each  day  with  open  doors.  The  respectful 
attention  was  very  pleasing.  The  entire  attendance 
during  these  days  was  1700,  of  whom  probably  more 
than  1200  were  passing  strangers,  many  of  whom 
had  never  before  heard  the  Gospel.  To  each  a 
Scripture  '  portion '  or  a  tract  was  given." 

Like  leaves  from  the  tree  of  life,  these  Scripture 
"  portions  "  have  scattered  themselves  over  France  ; 
and  we  know  that  they  are  "  for  the  healing  of 
the  nations." 

A  Book,  a  true  Book,  the  one  true  Book,  is  now 
making  its  way  over  a  land  where  a  thousand  lies 
have  been  believed ;  and  having  been  believed,  have 
borne  their  bitter  fruit.  That  Book  has  what  the 
lies  have  not, — vitality.  It  lives  and  it  gives  life. 
The  words  which  it  speaks  are  "  spirit  and  life  " 
(John  vi.  63).  For  God  has  sent  down  not  merely 
His  thoughts,  but  His  words  to  man.  Just  as  we 
do  with  one  another ;  we  transmit  our  thoughts  by 
transmitting  our  w^ords.  Thoughts  are  invisible  and 
inaudible  till  embodied  in  words.      We  must  have 


I20  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

the  words  of  the  thinker  if  we  would  have  his 
thoughts.  Bacon  would  not  hand  over  his  immortal 
thoughts  to  his  amanuensis  to  be  put  in  words  by 
him ;  and  we  should  not  care  to  read  a  page  of  his 
"  Novum  Organum,"  or  at  least  we  should  not  trust  its 
accuracy,  as  conveying  Bacon's  mind,  if  we  knew  that 
it  had  been  thus  manipulated.  That  Infinite  Being 
has  not  been  less  careful  that  His  thoughts  should 
be  accurately  reproduced,  and  unerringly  embodied 
in  language  all  His  own;  that  we  might  know 
exactly  what  He  wished  to  reveal. 

It  is  the  Book  containing  these  heavenly  thoughts 
and  these  Divine  words  that  has  been  taking  its 
way,  both  in  whole  and  in  ''  portions,"  over  France. 
The  words  are  not  perhaps  those  which  modern 
"  culture  "  would  dictate  or  criticism  sanction ;  but 
they  are  divinely  chosen,  and  more  thoroughly 
adapted  for  their  mission  than  any  man  would  have 
selected.  They  are  "  wiuged  words  "  in  their  truest 
sense,  carrying  life,  not  death,  in  their  flight. 

Voltaire's  words  have  gone  over  France  for  a 
century  and  more,  dropping  poison  everywhere ; 
the  words,  as  one  of  his  critics  writes,  "of  an  imp, 
not  of  an  angel."  But  that  same  France  which  he 
poisoned  has  now  got  hold  of  truer,  better  words, 
embodying  more  wondrous  thoughts  than  those  with 
which  he  fascinated  a  nation.      Are  the  true  words 


The  Thwd  Year  a7id  its  Incidents.     121 

about  to  obliterate  the  false,  and  make  the  country 
of  the  scoffer  a  land  of  believing  men?  She  has 
tried  faith  in  the  false  ;  is  she  now  about  to  try- 
faith  in  the  true  ? 

Popery  has  often  taken  advantage  of  "  used-up  " 
lives,  and  drawn  souls  sick  of  the  world,  worn  out 
with  pleasure,  and  tired  of  gaiety,  into  her  snares, 
by  offering  a  quiet  resting-place  from  riot  and  vanity 
and  noise  in  her  churches  and  convents.  The 
gospel  of  God's  free  love, — or  rather,  I  should  say,  the 
gracious  Son  of  God,  is  now  offering  to  a  used-up 
nation  a  resting-place  more  sure  and  tranquil  than 
^Hhe  Church"  ever  offered  or  the  priest  vouched  for, — 
the  bosom  of  God  Himself,  with  all  the  free  forgive- 
ness and  paternal  love  which  that  bosom  contains, 
and  with  all  that  heaven  which  descends  into  the 
soul  of  him  who  accepts  the  "  unspeakable  gift." 

From  many  aching,  empty  hearts  in  France  is 
now  coming  up  the  cry  of  the  prodigal,  ''I  will 
arise  and  go  to  my  Father."  And  God  is  meeting 
that  sorrowful  cry  with  His  own  welcome  and  His 
own  embrace.  "  When  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off 
his  father  saw  him,  and  ran  and  fell  upon  his  neck 
and  kissed  him."  And  if  "■  used-up  "  France  should, 
like  the  wanderer,  say,  ''  I  am  not  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  son,"  the  free  love  that  kissed  the  return- 
ing wanderer  will  speak  in  words  not  to  be  mis- 


12  2  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

taken :  "  Bring  forth  the  best  robe  and  put  it  on  him, 
and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet, 
and  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf  and  kill  it ;  for  this 
my  son  was  dead  and  is  alive  again,  he  was  lost  and 
is  found." 

No  doubt  infidelity  is  still  strong  in  the  land.  It 
dominates  in  high  places;  and  there,  though  not  so 
coarse,  is  as  contemptuous  as  of  old.  The  Gospel 
makes  inroads  on  it,  but  its  power  cannot  be  said  to 
be  decreasing,  nor  its  subtleties  less  acceptable  to 
the  general  mind  of  the  nation.  The  materials  for 
the  "strong  delusion"  of  the  last  days  are  everywhere; 
unbelief  may,  at  any  moment,  pass  into  credulity, 
or  credulity  into  unbelief;  each  in  its  own  way 
resulting  in  delusion ;  and  nothing  can  stay  this,  or 
disinfect  the  atmosphere,  but  the  one  Book  of  truth, 
held  up  in  all  its  unchangeable  certainty  before  the 
eyes  of  a  restless  nation,  hitherto  tossed  about  by 
the  conflicting  words  of  superstition  and  scepticism. 
An  infallible  Book  is  the  only  anchorage  for  human 
uncertainty ;  for  an  infallible  Book  not  only  severs 
us  from  the  pretensions  of  an  erring  man,  and  the 
deceptions  of  a  slippery  Church,  but  links  us,  both 
by  mind  and  heart,  to  an  infallible  God, — to  a 
Christ  in  whom  are  '^hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge." 

It  is  this  Book  of  truth  that  is  now  offered  to 


The  Third  Year  and  its  Incidents.     1 23 

France.  If  she  accepts  it  she  may  yet  be  a  noble 
land.  Her  future  may  turn  upon  her  reception  or 
rejection  of  the  present  Mission.  Renan  can  do 
nothing  for  her.  He  has  faith  in  nothing  save 
himself.  With  no  future  before  himself,  he  can  give 
no  future  to  France.  It  is  the  men  who  have  a 
future,  and  who  know  what  that  future  is,  that 
can  give  a  future  to  others.  Unbelief  does  nothing 
for  a  man  or  a  nation ;  faith  does  everything.  "  Thy 
faith  hath  saved  thee  "  is  as  true  of  a  nation  as  of  a 
man. 


124  The  White  Fields  of  Finance. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ONWARDS  AND  OUTWARDS. 

lU^fTANY  things  in  the  biography  of  Felix  Neff 
J=$^  resemble  what  is  now  going  on  in  Paris 
and  Lyons  :  only  his  work  chiefly  lay  in  the  villages, 
not  in  the  cities ;  and  his  pilgrimages  or  missionary 
tours  were  chiefly  on  foot,  across  mountains  and 
torrents  and  snow-drifts,  not  in  the  train  or  the 
tramway  or  the  voiture.  Climbing  up  to  the 
Alpine  hamlets,  in  rain  or  snow  or  sunshine; 
making  his  way  over  rocks  amid  the  dangers  of 
the  storm  or  the  avalanche  or  the  deep  snow-drift ; 
mounting  the  slippery  glacier  which  lay  in  his  way, 
or  cutting  steps  in  the  ice  for  the  people  to  reach  the 
chapel ;  journeying  to  La  Grave,  far  up  among  the 
ridges  of  the  Cottian  Alps,  beyond  the  source  of  the 
Durance,  and  almost  inaccessible  in  winter ; — these 
are  the  things  which  give  romance  to  the  missionary- 
life  of  the  Genevan  evangelist. 

Can  we  imagine  any  contrast  greater  than  that 


Onwards  and  Otitwards.  125 

between  this  wild  mountain-life  and  that  of  the 
Parisian  workers,  moving  from  day  to  day  through 
the  streets  and  lanes  of  a  crowded  city,  and  holding 
their  meetings  in  the  close  rooms  of  some  noisy 
boulevard  or  dull  'passage  ? 

Yet  the  work  is  very  much  the  same ;  and  it  is 
interesting  to  find  Neff  using  the  word  reunion  to 
designate  his  meetings.  In  travelling  from  place  to 
place  he  used  to  converse  with  all  he  met  with  by 
the  way,  on  the  matters  of  eternity.  In  the  towns 
or  villages  he  visited  he  would  hold  a  reunion; 
preaching  and  expounding  ;  yet  seeking  no  ends  of 
his  own,  nor  trying  to  found  a  sect,  but  always  co- 
operating with  the  pastors  :  and  we  find  the  police 
authorities  supporting  him.    Thus  he  writes : — "  The 

pastors  of  M and  C presented  a  petition 

to  the  Government  against  religious  societies,  on  the 
ground  that  they  disturbed  both  the  'pesice  of  the 
Church  and  civil  order.  A  pastor  of  Berne  was 
summoned  to  give  evidence  on  this  subject.  He 
stated  that  there  was  nothing  sectarian  among  the 
people  in  question ;  that  they  were  devout  Christ- 
ians, who  endeavoured  mutually  to  improve  each 
other ;  and  that  the  best  and  surest  way  to  avoid 
divisions  was  to  leave  them  in  peace.  Oae  of  the 
directors  of  the  central  police  was  then  sent  to  take 
cognisance  of  the  matter.     He  came  to  Montier  and 


126  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

went  to  the  prayer  meeting.  He  appeared  thouglat- 
ful,  and  on  being  asked  by  a  companion  what  he 
thought  of  it,  he  replied, — '  One  thing  alone  dis- 
tresses me.'  When  asked  what  it  was,  '  It  is,'  he 
said,  '  that  there  are  not  such  reunions  held  in  every 
province  throughout  the  canton.'  " 

The  Alpine  mission  of  Neff  was  a  nobly  aggressive 
one.  It  pressed  forward  in  all  directions,  over  valley 
and  mountain,  city  and  village,  bearing  aloft  the 
banner  of  the  good  news,  and  carrying  life  wherever 
the  intrepid  standard-bearer  went  on  his  mighty 
errand. 

It  is  hardly  correct  to  call  the  Paris  Mission  an 
'^aggressive"  one.  It  is  more  attractive  than  aggres- 
sive. 

The  difficulties  which  we  feel  in  our  own  large 
cities  of  "  drawing  out  "  the  people,  and  "  working 
up"  a  station,  are  unknown  to  the  labourers  in 
France.  The  people  come  without  compulsion  or 
persuasion.  "  Compel  them  to  come  in"  is  hardly  a 
suitable  motto  for  these  halls:  but  rather,  ''Nations 
that  knew  not  thee  shall  run  unto  thee"  (Isa.  Iv.  5)  ; 
or,  "  All  the  people  ran  together  unto  them,  greatly 
wondering"  (Acts  iii.  11). 

I  mentioned  in  a  former  chapter  the  case  of  a 
journeyman  painter  of  Belleville  who  at  one  of  the 
meetings  had  been  ^rested,  and  subsequently  brought 


Onwards  and  Outwards.  i  2  7 

out  of  darkness  into  light.  This  ouvrier  lives  in  a 
crowded  loassage,  where  the  dark  and  the  needy 
and  the  evil  dwell.  He  has  "  found  the  Messias  " 
for  himself,  and  he  must  tell  it,  or  at  least  get  it 
told,  to  others.  He  cannot  rest  till  he  has  a  meeting 
in  his  own  centre  :  and  he  finds  many  more  equally 
earnest  with  himself.  The  following  letter  is  a 
better  indication  of  the  peculiar  state  of  the  Paris- 
ian ouvriers  than  many  an  important  incident.  It 
is  addressed  to  ''  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'All :  " — "  It  is  with 
the  greatest  respect,  and  at  the  desire  of  more  than 
a  hundred  residents  of  my  j^ctssage  [an  avenue 
crowded  with  small  dwellings],  that  I  send  you  these 
few  lines.  More  than  a  hundred  ijersons  have 
applied  to  me,  and  that  repeatedly,  to  beg  you,  in 
their  names,  to  open  a  meeting-room  in  the  passage, 
assuring  me  that  they  much  wished  to  have  a  re- 
union in  the  ^passage.'' 

But  this  is  not  all.  The  petition  of  a  hundred 
inhabitants  of  a  neighbourhood  is  cheering ;  but  the 
offer  that  follows  from  this  poor  ouvrier  as  to  the 
fitting  up  of  the  room  at  his  own  cost  is  even  more 
touching.  ''  J  will  freely  undertake  to  light  and 
clean  the  room,  as  my  small  contribution ;  and  I 
am  sure  that  you  will  have  a  crowded  attendance ; 
and  that  will  correspond  with  the  command,  '  Go 
into  the  streets  and  lanes,  seek  the  maimed,  and  the 


128  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

halt,  and  the  blind,  and  invite  them  to  my  supper,' — 
all  these  are  to  be  found  in  the  passage. — Your 
devoted ."—(Report  for  1875,  p.  19.) 

The  willingness  of  the  proprietors  to  allow  the 
Mission  the  use  of  their  premises  is  a  further  indica- 
tion of  the  extent  to  which  the  work  has  penetrated. 
The  brother  of  the  landlord  of  the  room  at  Gare 
d'lvry,  who  has  a  large  number  of  workmen  under 
him,  on  hearing  that  the  object  of  the  Mission  was 
simply  to  tell  the  poor  people  about  Christ,  said  to 
his  agent, — "  We  must  bear  part  in  this  good  work  ; 
let  the  gentlemen  have  the  place  on  their  own 
terms."  An  old  tradesman  of  Belleville,  after  a 
meeting  in  that  faubourg,  was  heard  to  say, — "  If 
there  were  more  of  these  reunions  we  should  have 
no  more  need  of  policemen  in  Paris." 

The  policemen  frequently  are  found  acting  not  as 
mere  guardians  of  order,  but  as  helpers  in  the  work 
of  invitation.  ''Go  in,  go  in,"  they  have  been  heard 
saying  to  the  people,  you  will  hear  good  things. 
And  when  the  room  was  over- crowded,  they  have 
allowed  the  people  to  gather  round  the  open  door, 
on  condition  of  their  listening  quietly.  "It  would  be 
well,"  said  one  of  them,  "  if  there  were  200  such 
rooms  in  Paris." 

A  gentleman,  once  an  officer  in  the  French  army, 
visited  Mr.  MAIL      He  and  his  wife  attend  one  of 


Onwards  and  Outwards.  129 


the  stations.  About  a  year  before  he  had  been 
passing  the  mission-hall  on  the  evening  of  its 
opening,  and  curiosity  drew  them  in.  He  had 
no  religion, — had  never  read  a  page  of  the  Bible ; 
there  was  no  Bible  in  his  house.  The  words  they 
heard  that  night  awakened  new  thoughts  in  both. 
They  obtained  a  Bible,  and  began  to  read  it  with 
deep  interest.  They  were  visited  by  some  friends 
connected  with  the  Mission,  who  helped  to  teach 
and  guide  them.  Ere  long  they  found  their  way  to 
the  resting-place,  and  the  peace  of  the  cross  filled 
their  souls.  They  would  not  hide  the  treasure 
they  had  found.  "  I  want,"  said  the  officer,  ''  to 
stand  up  in  that  room  and  tell  the  people  of  the 
blessings  I  have  obtained  there.  When  one  has 
been  cured  of  a  fierce  disease,  he  wants  to  recommend 
the  remedy  which  cured  him  to  the  others  who 
are  sick.  I  long  to  see  all  Paris  covered  with 
these  reunions;  and  I  believe  that  it  will  be 
so." 

"  I  am  not  quite  two  years  old,"  said  a  lady 
after  a  New- Year's  afternoon  prayer  meeting.  She 
was  the  head  of  a  business-house,  and  had,  within 
the  last  two  years,  found  eternal  life  at  one  of  the 
meetings.  She  and  her  household  had  been  in  deep 
religious  ignorance  till  then.  "  How  changed,"  she 
said,    "  is    everything  in  our  household    since  last 

K 


130         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

New- Year's  Day.  Great  is  our  thankfulness.  You  are 
truly  my  brother  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

"  Father,  good-bye,"  said  a  little  child  at  Les 
Ternes,  only  seven  and  a-half  years  old.  He  was 
going  out  to  his  "work  as  his  dying  daughter  was 
thus  bidding  him  farewell. 

"  Good-bye,  I  shall  not  see  you  again.  I  am 
going,"  said  the  child. 

''Where?" 

"  To  heaven.  I  see  Jesus  ;  He  is  come  to  fetch 
me." 

After  a  little,  and  just  as  she  was  dying,  she  said 
to  her  mother,  "  I  see  Jesus ;  He  has  come  for  me." 
She  had  learned  from  Miss  Blundell  at  the  mission- 
room  all  she  knew  about  Jesus. 

"  A  year  ago,"  said  an  ouvrier,  "  we  knew  nothing 
of  the  love  of  Jesus."  He  came  with  his  wife  to 
express  their  gratitude  for  what  they  had  learned. 
Several  others  of  the  same  class  bore  similar  testi- 
mony. With  some  the  insight  into  Divine  truth  is 
a  rapid  process,  considering  the  total  ignorance  of 
Scripture  in  which  they  have  been  brought  up. 
With  others  it  is  slow. 

"  At  length,"  said  a  clever  ouvrier  to  Mr.  M'All, 
"  I  begin  to  comprehend  a  little, — a  little."  Yet 
he  had  been  attending  the  meetings  for  three  years. 
These  people  need  the  instruction  of  the  conscience 


Onwards  and  Outwards. 


\%i 


as  well  as  that  of  the  "mind.  They  do  not  know  what 
sin  is ;  and  how  difficult  it  must  be  to  see  their 
need  of  a  Sinbearer,  or  comprehend  His  work.  Sins 
against  the  Church,  against  the  priest,  or  against  the 
public  laws  of  the  realm  they  know ;  but  sins  against 
God  ; — they  know  not  what  they  are.  The  teachers 
must  begin  at  the  first  elements  with  them,  and 
exercise  much  patience  as  well  as  charity.  They 
are  just  beginning  to  spell  out  the  truth  that  a 
sinner  needs  a  Saviour ;  that  a  great  sinner  needs  a 
great  Saviour;    and  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is 

just  such  a  Saviour  as  they  need.      ''  Mr.  told 

me  that  I  am  lost,"  said  a  poor  woman.  "  Is  it  so  ? 
Am  I  really  lost  ?  "  She  had  to  be  told  what  ''  lost " 
meant,  and  that  the  Son  of  Man  came  to  seek  and 
save  the  lost. 

The  ''  birthday  letter  "  came  all  right.  It  was 
promised,  as  the  reader  will  remember  (p.  Ill),  by 
an  ouvrier  and  his  wife,  who  intimated  their  inten- 
tion of  bringing  a  "  lovely  bouquet "  on  what  they 
called  their  "  birthday."  A  real  bouquet  came,  as 
the  expression  of  affection  and  thankfulness ;  and 
with  it  a  letter,  which  greatly  enhanced  the  gift. 
Twelve  months  before  (the  letter  stated),  they  had 
entered  the  room  at  La  Chapelle,  dark  and  thought- 
less, and  left  it  under  a  deep  sense  of  sin,  which 
had   soon  ripened  into  faith   in    Christ.       In   this 


132  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

birthday  letter  the  writer  exhorts  his  neighbours  to 

break  with  the  world,  and  to  accept  Christ.      May 

I  not  give  his  message  to  all,  in  the  words  of  the 

German  poet, — 

"  Come  and  He  will  give  you  rest, 
Sorrow-stricken,  sin-defiled ; 
He  can  make  the  sinfullest 

God  the  Father's  blessed  child. 
Trust  Him,  for  His  word  is  plain, 
Christ  receiveth  sinful  men." 

"Viens  a  Jesu, — viens  a  Jesu,"  were  the  last 
words  of  a  poor  aged  woman  who  died  during  this 
year  (1875).  Strange  words  to  come  from  a  poor 
lodging  in  the  very  heart  of  infidel  Montmartre  ! 
She  had  been  wholly  ignorant  of  the  Gospel,  till  a 
Christian  ouvrier  taught  her  the  things  of  Christ- 
This  workman  and  a  neighbour  opened  some  small 
meetings  in  their  house.  These  small, —  "cottage 
meetings  "  shall  I  call  them  ? — had  been  absorbed 
in  the  larger  gatherings  of  the  mission-room,  and  at 
these  gatherings  she  had  faithfully  attended.  At 
last  the  good  ouvrier  missed  her  from  her  place  in 
the  meeting,  and  sought  her  out  in  her  poor  dwell- 
ing. He  found  her  very  feeble ;  but  she  received 
him  with  joy,  telling  him  that  she  had  no  fear  of 
death,  for  she  had  found  a  Saviour  who  had  con- 
quered for  her  the  last  enemy.  After  several  visits, 
he  found  her  at  length  sinking.      She  tried  to  utter 


Onwards  and  Oittwai'ds.  133 


some   words.       Bending   over   her,   he   caught   the 

words  of  the  well-known  hymn, 

"  Une  bonne  nouvelle 
Descend  des  cieux." 

And  then  she  whispered  the  last  line  of  the  verse, — 
"  Viens  a  Jesu." 

It  was  at  this  station  that  an  ouvrier  had  the 
courage  to  stand  up  before  400  persons  assembled 
at  the  anniversary  tea  meeting  and  tell  of  the  change 
wrought  on  himself  and  his  aged  mother.  Mont- 
martre  mission-hall,  he  said,  was  his  spiritual  birth- 
place. At  a  similar  anniversary  in  the  La  Villette 
station,  three  ouvriers  successively  bore  testimony 
before  their  neighbours  to  their  joy  in  Christ.  Two  of 
them  had  made  known  their  change  to  Mr.M'All  some 
time  before,  and  declared  their  resolution,  and  that 
of  their  wives,  to  serve  the  Lord.  They  have  been 
seeking  to  be  useful  to  others. 

"  I  shall  take  my  grandchildren  with  me  into  the 
wood,  and  there  we  shall  hold  a  little  reunion  among 
ourselves."  So  said  an  aged  female  who  attended 
the  weekly  prayer  meeting,  but  was  about  to  leave 
for  the  country  :  and  thus  the  Mission  works  its 
way  through  the  land,  entering  its  villages  as  well 
as  its  towns.  The  distribution  of  millions  of  tracts 
among  the  French  peasantry  towards  the  close  of  the 
late  Exhibition,  though  not  directly  the  doing  of  the 


134  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

Mission,  yet  was  part  of  the  working  of  its  machinery 
in  connection  with  other  societies,  and  must  be 
viewed  as  one  of  the  marvellous  ways  in  which  the 
Gospel  has  of  late  years  been  sent  through  all 
France :  cities,  towns,  and  villages. 

"  He  that  believeth  is  not  condemned "  is  the 
apostolic  gospel;  and  it  is  the  burden  of  the  messages 
in  these  mission-halls.  This  simplicity  of  the  way 
of  life  strikes  these  poor  ouvriers,  because  of  the 
numerous  and  complex  ceremonies  which  they  have 
been  taught  in  the  Romish  Church  to  consider  neces- 
sary to  salvation,  and  because  they  never  heard  before 
of  any  religious  ordinance  that  had  not  to  be  paid 
for,  even  by  the  poorest.  A  free  pardon  !  This  is 
something  new.  Nothing  to  pay,  but  all  paid  for 
already  !  Is  it  true  ?  No  money  needed  for  salva- 
tion, and  no  priest  for  absolution !  Can  it  be 
possible?  "  Only  believe,"  these  men  say;  and  they 
read  it  out  of  the  Book  of  God.  This  is  certainly  a 
new  religion.  So  thought  some  of  the  hearers  at 
the  first  meeting  in  the  Rue  de  Turbigo,  who  went 
home  wondering  at  the  news.  "  Salvation  on  simply 
believing,"  they  said ;  "  is  it  really  so  ?  This  brings 
the  Saviour  close  to  every  man,  and  every  man  close 
to  the  Saviour." 

"  There,  my  boy,  read  that  book;  it  will  make  an 
honest  man  of  thee,"  said  an  ouvrier  to  his  son.    He 


Onwards  and  Outwards.  135 

was  a  boy  of  Montmartre,  and  had  come  wishing  to 
borrow  a  Bible.  The  copy  offered  was  in  small 
type ;  and  the  father,  observing  this,  came  forward 
to  ask  one  of  a  larger  type,  as  ''  all  in  the  house," 
he  said,  ''  wished  to  read  it."  As  the  boy  carried 
off  the  volume  under  his  arm,  the  father  spoke  the 
above  words  to  him,  shrewdly  indicating  his  opinion 
of  the  Book,  as  teaching  not  only  religion,  but  the 
moralities  of  life.^ 

A  visitor  went  into  the  house  of  an  ouvrier  who 
had  newly  come  to  the  station.  The  room  was 
wretched  and  unfurnished;  the  man  was  a  drunkard. 
But  lately,  said  the  wife,  since  he  attended  the 
meeting,  he  has  been  giving  up  his  intemperance. 
After  some  time  the  visitor  returned,  and  found  the 
whole  dwelling  changed.  All  was  neatness  and 
comfort.  The  wife  pointed  to  a  new  wardrobe  they 
had  got,  and  said,  "  What  do  you  think  we  call  it  ? 
— Mr.  M'All's  wardrobe ;  for  we  never  could  have 
had  money  to  buy  it,  had  it  not  been  for  these 
meetings." 

A  young  pastor  writes  to  Mr.  M'All  regarding  a 
workman  who  had  come  to  him  for  counsel.      Some 

*  The  following  is  a  singular  testimony  from  an  intelligent  ouvi'ier 
which  is  well  worth  noting  : — "  Many  people  very  much  misunder- 
stand us  [ouvriers].  We  are  not  against  religion.  In  our  political 
meetings  we  used  to  speak  against  oppression  in  all  its  forms ;  but 
never,  never  one  word  against  Jesus  Christ." 


136  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

months  previously  he  had  been  led  to  attend  one 
of  the  meetings  in  the  Menilmontant  room.  His 
conscience  was  touched,  and  he  became  a  constant 
attender.  In  great  darkness  of  spirit,  he  had  with 
tears  asked  prayer  to  be  made  for  him.  After  a 
protracted  conflict,  he  found  the  gospel  peace,  and, 
with  his  wife,  joined  an  evangelical  church.  All  his 
spare  time  is  now  devoted  to  Christian  work. 

In  general,  the  converts  have  joined  the  most  con- 
venient Protestant  Church.  And  this  is  the  answer 
to  the  question  which  has  been  often  asked, — What 
do  the  converts  do  for  fellowship  and  ordinances? 
Are  they  forming  a  separate  Church  ?  No.  They  are 
just  quietly  falling  into  the  churches  already  existing; 
and  this  may  be  most  beneficial  to  these  churches 
and  their  pastors,  infusing  new  life  by  means  of  the 
fresh  glow  of  their  first  love  and  earnest  faith.  Dr. 
Fisch  mentions  some  of  the  Rue  de  Turbigo  hearers 
as  having  joined  his  congregation,  giving  evidence 
of  a  true  spiritual  change. 

"  We  are  the  youngest  of  six  brothers,"  said  an 
engaging  and  well-dressed  boy  of  twelve,  who  came 
to  the  Turbigo  station  leading  a  younger  brother  by 
the  hand.  He  wished  to  buy  a  Bible,  but  had  not 
money  enough.  The  small  extra  sum  was  given  by 
friends  of  the  station,  and  the  Bible  was  obtained. 
The  next  Sabbath  he  came,  after  the  meeting,  with 


Onwards  and  OtUwards.  137 

Bible  in  hand,  to  express  his  thanks,  and,  after  tell- 
ing of  the  six  brothers,  he  added,  "  I  desire  that  they 
should  all  read  this  book." 

As  the  messages  of  life,  printed  and  spoken,  have 
gone  into  all  streets  and  alleys,  so  have  they 
reached  all  classes  and  all  trades ; — the  soldier,  the 
police,  the  concierge,  the  chiffonnier,  and  street 
sweeper.  The  various  agents  and  agencies  con- 
nected with  the  Mission  have  done  something  for 
all  these;  but  the  immensity  of  the  field  so  pre- 
pares one  for  discouragement  that  the  least  success 
is  cheering.  Faith  works  in  the  dark,  yet  finds  light 
there. 

The  omnibus  conductors  have  not  been  overlooked. 
Amid  the  rush  of  the  ever-pouring  crowd, — now 
flowing  out,  now  in, — it  is  not  always  easy  to  get  at 
them.  Yet  the  gift  of  a  tract  or  book  in  passing 
has  done  its  work  ;  and  warm  thanks  have  been 
expressed  by  these  men  for  the  interest  thus  shown 
in  their  welfare.  "  The  evident  delight,"  says  the 
report,  "  with  which  these  men,  and  the  keepers  of 
bureaux,  cab-drivers,  &c.,  receive  the  Portions  and 
numbers  of  LAmi  de  la  Maison,  &c.,  is  most  strik- 
ing. Sometimes  all  the  men  in  an  omnibus  bureau 
have  rushed  out  on  seeing  us,  inquiring  whether 
we  had  a  new  number  of  the  magazine  for  them. 
Several  have  framed  the  pictures  ;  and  those  who  live 


138  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

in  the  districts  which  we  visit  once  a-month  watch 
for  the  time  of  our  return." 

During  the  year  1875  several  new  stations  were 
added  and  some  old  ones  enlarged;  so  that  the 
number  of  sittings  increased  from  1610  to  2774; 
and  the  attendance  rose  in  a  still  larger  proportion, 
showing  that  something  higher  than  curiosity  was 
at  work,  and  that  novelty  was  not  the  attraction. 
Deeper  seriousness  pervading  the  different  meetings 
was  even  more  cheering  than  the  increase  of  num- 
bers. 

This  year  there  came  a  fraternal  letter  of  pastors 
and  elders,  of  the  most  gratifying  kind,  showing 
the  interest  which  the  work  is  excitino^  among^  the 
French  Protestant  churches.'" 

*  I  give  this  interesting  letter  in  a  note.  It  is  addressed  to  Mr. 
M'All,  and  is  dated,  "Paris,  29th  April,  1875  "  :— 

"Dear  Sir  and  Honoured  Brother, — We,  the  undersigned, 
Pastors  and  Elders  assembled  in  conference  in  Paris  on  occasion  of 
the  Anniversaries  of  the  Protestant  Religious  Societies,  desire  to 
take  this  opportunity  of  publicly  expressing  to  you  our  gratitude  and 
our  fraternal  sympath}'  for  the  work  of  evangelisation  which  you 
have  undertaken  with  so  much  courage  and  pursued  with  so  much 
devotion  and  perseverance  in  a  constantly  increasing  number  of 
districts  of  Paris. 

"  Many  of  us  know  your  work  from  having  personally  taken  part 
in  it,  and  we  are  happy  to  have  been  able  to  give  you  our  cordial 
co-operation.  We  all  associate  ourselves  with  you  in  prayer  ;  we 
rejoice  to  bear  testimony  to  the  spirit  of  fidelity  and  of  charity  in 
which  the  work  is  conducted  ;  and  we  bless  God  for  the  visible 
success  and  for  the  great  encouragements  which  He  has  granted  to 
you. 


outwards  and  Outwards.  139 

M.  Rosseeuw  St.  Hilaire  thus  writes  concerning 
the  progress  of  the  work  : — 

"  Thanks  to  tlie  Divine  Head  of  the  Church,  the  spiritual 
siege  of  our  great  heathen  city  continues,  and  advances  from 
day  to  day.  To  the  fourteen  detached  forts  planted  around  it, 
the  Eev.  Mr.  M'AU  is  on  the  point  of  adding  three  others. 
Our  suburbs,  with  the  hard-working  ouvriers  who  inhabit 
them,  are  already  under  assault,  ^  and  awaiting  the  attack  on 
the  centre  of  the  town,  commenced  by  the  station  of  the  Eue 
Turbigo. 

"  Our  dear  English  friends  will  be  surprised,  perhaps,  to  be 
informed  in  the  same  Report,  of  the  pecuniary  exigencies  of 
the  work,  of  the  insufficiency  of  its  resources  in  workers  and 
in  money,  and,  at  the  same  time,  of  the  necessity  for  extending 
it.  But  any  one  who  had  attended  our  meetings  would  be  at 
no  loss  to  explain  this  contrast.  Those  who  have  not  witnessed 
the  earnest  attention  of  those  present,  above  all  that  of  the 
men,  who  drink  in  your  words  rather  than  merely  listen  to 
them,  cannot  fully  understand  how  difficult  it  is  for  us  to 
stand  still,  and  withhold  further  aggression,  when  the  Lord 


"  Pray  accept,  Dear  Sir  and  Honoured  Brother,  the  expression  of 
our  respectful  and  fraternal  sentiments. 

"Signed  : — Eug,  Bersier,  Geo.  Fisch,  F.  Lichtenberger,  E.  Eobin, 
Eosseeuw  St.  Hilaire,  Ernest  Dhombres,  Th.  Monod,  N.  Eecolin, 
Samuel  Bost,  J.  J.  Keller,  Aug.  Fisch,  J.  Bonhoure,  V.  Lepoids, 
Ate.  Saillens,  J,  Vignal,  J.  Gaubert,  P.  Eouffet,  Vincent,  Aim^ 
Cadet,  L.  Boileau,  Vernier,  A.  Pilatte,  A.  Bastide,  A.  Malan, 
Cologny,  E.  Voreaux,  F.  Lemaire,  F.  A.  Vincent,  H.  Andrieu." 

Note  by  Mons.  Bersier. — "More  than  twenty  pastors  belonging  to 
the  National  Eeformed  Church  and  the  Lutheran  Church,  whose 
signatures  do  not  appear  to  this  letter,  have  charged  me  to  state  that 
they  adhere  to  it  with  all  their  heart.  The  address  could  not  be 
completed  while  they  were  on  the  spot." 


140  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

Himself,  in  multiplying  tlie  successea  as  we  advance,  seems  to 
say, '  Go  forward  ! ' 

"  At  last,  the  laymen  are  moved ;  the  volunteers  so  much 
needed  are  beginning  to  join  themselves  to  our  ranks.  They 
have,  at  length,  come  to  understand  that  the  pastors  of  Paris 
are  fully  taxed  by  the  duties  of  their  churches,  that  there  is 
need  to  come  to  their  aid,  and  that,  beyond  the  ecclesiastical 
confines,  there  are  works  awaiting  Christians,  who  are  all 
'priests  and  kings.'  A  number  of  young  men,  members  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations,  and  students  of  the 
Missionary  and  Theological  Institutes,  take  an  increasingly 
active  part  in  our  work,  while  some  brethren  more  advanced 
in  age  lend  to  it  the  weight  of  their  experience,  and  strive 
to  lead  perishing  souls  to  Jesus  Christ. 

"  We  could  not  over-estimate  the  sphere  and  importance  of 
this  work.  Excellent  as  it  is,  it  is  but  of  a  preparatory  nature. 
To  carry  it  out  to  its  highest  results,  there  is  need  of  the  fully 
organised  churches,  side  by  side  with  our  mission-rooms,  to 
gather  into  fellowship  those  whom  we  are  enabled  to  attract 
towards  it.  All  that,  by  God's  help,  we  can  do  is  to  lead  them 
to  love  the  Gospel  ;  it  is  for  the  pastors  to  instruct  them.  It 
is  our  part  to  enlist  the  recruits  ;  theirs  to  discipline  them. 
It  is  ours  to  sow  ;  it  is  for  them  to  gather  in  the  harvest. 
And  far  from  being  envious  of  their  part  in  the  undertaking, 
we  feel  happy  in  making  it  ready  for  them.  The  faithful  pastors 
of  the  city  are  fully  alive  to  this,  and  evidence  great  pleasure 
in  rendering  their  aid  in  our  meetings  when  other  unavoidable 
occupations  permit.  This  co-working  between  the  pastors  and 
our  evangelistic  meetings  is  the  only  method  by  which  to 
arrive  at  lasting  and  large  results.  There  is  need  of  scouts 
to  smooth  the  rugged  ground  and  prepare  the  way  for 
the  regular  troops  ;  and  that  is  the  humble  task  which  we 
endeavour  to  fulfil.  But,  in  order  to  keep  hold  of  these 
newly-awakened  minds,  and  to  nourish  them  with  the  bread 
of   life,   churches   instinct  with    spiritual   life   are  needed ; 


Onwards  and  Outwards.  141 

for  it   is  vain  to  go  to  draw  water  except  where  a  spring 
exists  ! 

"  As  a  Frenchman,  I  rejoice  once  more  to  thank  our  English 
brethren  for  all  that  they  have  clone  for  France  during  and 
since  the  war.  First  of  all,  they  occupied  themselves  with 
our  physical  needs  ;  and  God  only  knows  what  resources  they 
expended  in  alleviating  so  much  suffering,  and  repairing  such 
vast  ruins.  But  this  was  not  enough  ;  after  the  bodies,  they 
have  thought  on  the  souls  of  their  neighbours  ;  and  this  work 
is  in  itself  a  living  evidence  of  the  tender  sympathies  of  the 
Christians  of  England  for  our  poor  country,  which  owes  to 
them  so  much  already,  and  which  would  yet  owe  to  them  far 
more  if,  by  them,  it  should  be  eventually  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  its  Saviour." 

Five  adult  Bible  classes  are  reported.  The 
Sunday  schools  and  children's  meetings  are  extend- 
ing themselves;  and  in  Mr.  Maitland  Heriot,  Mr. 
M'All  finds  a  most  valuable  worker  among  the 
young.  Classes  for  teaching  English  go  on  and  a 
series  of  useful  lectures  is  begun.  An  ouvroir  for 
poor  women  has  been  commenced  at  Les  Ternes, 
and  some  of  the  mission-rooms  elsewhere  have  been 
made  use  of  for  a  similar  purpose. 

The  Hymnal  of  the  Mission  has  been  doubled  ;  and 
the  people  are  greatly  interested  in  the  meetings  for 
the  practice  of  psalmody.  Each  part  of  the  spiritual 
machinery  is  coming  into  fuller  operation,  and  is 
telling  upon  the  people. 

Several  prayer  meetings  are  reported  this  year ; — 
a  weekly  one  at  Ornano  and  Grenelle,  and  a  daily 


142  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

forenoon  one  in  Belleville  for  the  little  band  of 
workers  resident  there.  Praying  and  working  go 
hand  in  hand.  There  is  a  danger  of  work  super- 
seding prayer  :  of  the  hours  being  so  filled  up  with 
external  activities  that  retirement  and  solitude  can 
hardly  be  obtained.  Work  in  that  case  becomes 
either  bustle  or  mechanical  routine.  The  soul  gets 
empty;  the  workman  loses  spiritual  health  and 
vigour ;  the  mind  gets  fretted,  and  the  body  worn- 
out  ;  distance  from  God  comes  in ;  life  becomes 
unreal ;  and  bondage  succeeds  to  the  liberty  of 
happy  service.  The  late  hours  and  the  distances 
are  hindrances  to  both  morning  and  evening  fellow- 
ship with  God.  These  hours,  of  course,  cannot  be 
altered,  and  the  over-wrought  worker  requires  a 
tranquil  forenoon  to  make  up  for  all  this.  Exces- 
sive work,  in  visitings  and  meetings,  is  apt  uncon- 
sciously to  dry  up  the  spirit ;  and  when  the  labourer 
is  obliged  to  toil  on  in  this  dried-up  state,  and  to 
speak  for  God,  when  jaded  and  wearied,  an  amount 
of  spiritual  unreality  is  superinduced  which  is  ex- 
ceeding dangerous,  and  of  which  we  must,  if  we 
would  not  do  imperfect  work,  be  stripped, — it  may 
be  by  lessening  the  labour,  it  may  be  by  retirement 
from  the  field  for  a  season,  or  it  may  be  by  Divine 
discipline. 

Yet  there  is  a  certain  way  of  dealing  with  this 


Onwards  and  Onlzuards.  143 

state  of  things,  which  we  deprecate  as  unscriptural. 
*'  Out  of  communion,"  and  "  in  communion "  are 
the  set  phrases  made  use  of  by  some  in  speaking 
of  work  for  God.  Now,  ''  communion  "  in  Scripture 
means  "  partnership  "  (kolvcovlo),  not  intercourse  of 
mind  with  mind,  or  heart  with  heart.  A  believing 
man,  therefore,  can  never  be  "  out  of  communion," 
unless  he  is  broken  off  from  Christ.  His  "  partner- 
ship "  never  ceases,  however  low  his  frames  may  be. 
I  knew  one  who  said  that  he  had  given  up  working, 
for  he  was  "  out  of  communion."  I  suppose  he 
meant  ''  the  enjoyment  of  communion,"  for  he  could 
not  mean  that  his  "  partnership  "  with  the  Son  of 
God  was  destroyed,  because  his  feelings  had  become 
dull.  Yet  he  "  condemned  trusting  in  frames  and 
feelings,"  while  he  was  doing  the  very  thing  under 
a  high-sounding  name.  His  joy  had  got  low,  and 
he  called  that  being  "  out  of  communion,"  and  he 
would  not  work  till  he  had  got  "  into  communion." 
But  neither  should  he  have  prayed,  nor  praised  ; 
nay,  neither  should  he  have  eaten  his  food,  ''for 
whether  we  eat  or  drink  or  whatever  we  do,  we  are 
to  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God,"  and  we  cannot  do 
aught  to  the  glory  of  God  when  "  out  of  com- 
munion "  in  the  scriptural  sense.  No  lowness  of 
spiritual  feeling  can  make  void  our  Divine ''partner- 
ship," which  depends  on  what  we  believe,  not  what 


144  ^^^^  White  Fields  of  Fraiice. 

we  feel ;  and  it  is  the  knowledge  of  this  great  truth, 
that  as  believing  men  we  are  always  "■  in  partner- 
ship," how  poor  soever  may  be  our  joy,  that  lifts 
us  from  the  dust  into  liberty  and  gladness. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  such  peculiar  expressions, 
which  some  in  our  own  land  have  much  on  their 
lips,  will  not  find  their  way  either  to  the  workers  or 
the  converts  of  Paris.  It  is  by  these  that  Satan 
introduces  division  and  false  teaching.  The  ''catch- 
word "  of  a  sect  often  contains  more  than  meets  the 
ear ;  and  when  that  catchword  is  taken  up  and 
pressed,  it  is  sure  to  lead  astray.  The  frequent 
use  of  it  is  often  the  indication  of  spiritual  pride, 
and  assumption  of  superior  teaching,  as  well  as  of 
higher  attainments ;  and  the  stress  laid  upon  it  by 
the  speaker  is  meant  to  say,  "  I  have  got  some- 
thing which  you  have  not ;  you  had  better  reconsider 
your  standing  and  associate  with  me."  The  work 
in  Paris  has  been  as  yet  undisturbed  by  these  "diverse 
and  strange  doctrines ;"  and  the  noble  spectacle  is 
presented  of  a  large  band  of  workers  from  all  the 
different  evangelical  churches  of  Great  Britain, 
co-operating  with  one  mind  and  one  heart ;  not 
seeking  to  teach  new  doctrines,  nor  to  erect  sectarian 
congregations,  or  to  abuse  "  systems,"  nor  to  attack 
churches,  but  to  gather  in  the  wanderers  into  the 
one  body  of  Christ. 


Onwards  and  OtUwards.  145 

Perish  the  human  Shibboleth  that  splits  up  the 
one  household  of  faith,  or  introduces  discord  and 
suspicion  into  the  communion  of  saints.  Even  true 
doctrines  are  not  always  to  be  used  for  division; 
and  there  are  not  a  few  truths  which  Christians  may 
differ  about  calmly  and  honestly,  but  which  if  made 
the  foundations  of  separate  sects,  or  magnified  into 
necessary  grounds  of  disunion,  become  snares  and 
stumbling-blocks  to  the  morbid,  or  the  weak,  or  the 
fickle.  Calvin  declared,  in  his  own  fervent  way,  his 
willingness  to  cross  ten  seas  in  order  to  unite  the 
Churches  of  God,  in  his  day.  There  are  some,  we  fear, 
Avho  would  not  shrink  from  compassing  both  sea 
and  land  to  divide  it,  in  ours.  In  most  religious 
awakenings  there  have  been  found  men  who,  taking 
advantage  of  the  warm  state  of  feeling  among  the 
converts,  have  tried  to  raise  a  sect  of  which  they 
might  be  the  head.  Hitherto  Paris  has  been  spared 
this  humbling  spectacle ;  and  Popery  has  not  been 
able  there  to  boast  of  her  own  unity,  and  point  the 
contemptuous  finger  to  a  divided  Protestantism. 
They  who  ''creep  into  houses"  and  "beguile  unstable 
souls  "  have,  as  yet,  been  restrained  from  exercising 
their  ignoble  vocation  in  France.  It  is  no  small 
matter  of  thankfulness  that  the  Parisian  Mission 
should  have  been  spared  this  evil;  thus  far  per- 
mitted to  work  in  peace,  and  to  abide  in  happy  unity. 


146  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

To  intrude  upon  "other  men's  labours,"  when  the 
whole  world  lies  before  us,  is  more  like  "  the  thief 
and  the  robber "  than  the  shepherd ;  to  "  boast  in 
another  man's  line  of  things  made  ready  to  our 
hand  "  is  not  the  part  of  a  true-hearted  Christian 
man.  To  "  cause  divisions "  (except  in  Satan's 
kingdom)  was  not  the  apostolic  vocation,  nor  in 
accordance  with  the  taste  of  the  primitive  Church. 

The  single-mindedness  of  the  Reformers  in  their 
noble  labours,  concerning  this  thing,  is  very  noticeable. 
To  draw  men  to  themselves,  or  to  found  a  sect  was 
altogether  too  low  a  thing  to  mind,  or  to  think  of. 
Whether  (according  to  Beza's  epigram)  we  hear 
Calvin  docte  docenteni,  or  Viret  viella  fundentem, 
or  Farel  fortiter  tonantem,  we  feel  that  we  are 
listening  to  preachers  whose  grand  thought  was 
how  to  draw  men  to  the  cross. 

Not  that  we  count  upon  smooth  progress,  or  think 
that  the  great  breaker  up  of  peace  and  truth  and 
unity  will  overlook  Paris.  Offences  will  come  ;  and 
we  must  be  prepared  for  them. 

The  history  of  the  last  days  is  to  be  a  tale  of 
shipwreck ;  of  which  we  have  the  prophetic  warning 
in  the  seven  apocalyptic  epistles,  which  contain  the 
sad  story  of  seven  shipwrecks, — the  foreshadows  of 
something  still  more  sad.  But  that  is  no  argument 
against  cheerful,  hopeful  labour.      The  evil  day  will 


Onwards  and  Outwards.  147 

come  soon  enough ;  meanwhile  let  us,  with  songs 
upon  our  lips,  go  forward  to  do  the  work  committed 
to  our  hands. 

Nor  let  us  forget  that  our  labour  does  not  end 
with  the  ingathering.  The  tending,  the  watching, 
the  feeding  of  the  flock  are  matters  of  earnest  care. 
The  sheep  wanders  away  on  its  own  feet,  yet  it 
does  not  return  on  them,  but  on  the  Shepherd's 
shoulder.  It  cannot  be  trusted  otherwise.  It  takes 
the  Shepherd's  strength  to  carry  it  back,  and  when 
thus  brought  back,  to  keep  it  within  the  fold. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  solemn  lessons  that  an  under- 
shepherd  can  learn.  It  is  a  lesson  which  the  Parisian 
labourers  will  find  more  and  more  pressed  upon 
them  as  the  work  widens  and  prospers. 


148  The  White  Fields  of  France, 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PROGKESSIVE    INGATHERING. 

f  COMPRESS  the  events  of  the  next  two  years 
into  one  chapter ;  not  wishing  unduly  to 
extend  this  narrative,  and  referring  my  readers  to 
the  reports  for  1876  and  1877,  which,  being  more 
recent,  are  more  accessible  than  those  of  earlier  years, 
which  are  now  out  of  print. 

The  localities  are  so  far  the  same,  save  that  fresh 
ground  is  broken,  and  new  stations  added ;  while 
some  of  the  old  halls  not  only  retain  their  audi- 
ences, but  increase  them,  so  that  enlargement  is 
required.  And  this  expansion  of  the  old  rooms  is 
one  of  the  most  palpable  signs  of  the  vigour  and 
permanence  of  the  work.  It  shows  how  the  dis- 
trict is  affected  and  penetrated.  Not  curiosity, 
but  healthy  interest  sustains  the  work.  One  man 
carries  the  message  to  another ; — the  children  to 
the  father,  and  the  father  to  the  children,  the  brother 
to  the  sister,  and  the  sister  to  the  brother.      The 


Progressive  Ingathering.  149 

music  of  the  hymns  floats  everywhere,  and  refuses 
to  be  shut  out.  The  ''good  news"  come  and  go,  day 
by  day  :  or  rather  night  by  night.  There  is  no 
flagging,  no  falling  off ;  but  increase  of  interest  and 
honest  anxiety.  In  some  cases  it  may  be  wonder ; 
but  the  wonder  seems  to  work,  and  spread ;  not 
evaporating,  but  passing  into  something  more  sub- 
stantial than  amazement. 

Thus  the  halls  swell  out,  calling  for  frequent 
enlargement ; — and  propagating  themselves,  if  one 
may  use  the  phrase ;  so  that  demands  for  new 
stations  come  from  many  quarters  of  the  city. 

The  circulation  of  Bibles  and  books  continues 
unabated ;  the  priests  complaining  that  they  cannot 
find  a  chair  in  their  district  to  sit  down  upon  for 
some  heretic  tract,  or  Protestant  Bible,  or  evangeli- 
cal hymn-book. 

The  spiritual  work  also  deepens.  The  truth  is 
sinking  down  into  men's  souls :  and  though,  as 
Romanists,  accustomed  to  trifle  with  sin,  except  as 
against  the  Virgin  or  the  Church,  they  are  slow  to 
apprehend  the  awful  truth  of  human  guilt  before 
God,  many  are  beginning  to  understand  in  their 
consciences  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  the  exceed- 
ing sinfulness  of  sin,  and  that  only  the  blood  of  the 
one,  unrepeated  sacrifice  can  pacify  the  conscience, 
or  exhaust  the  penalty,  or  cleanse  the  sinner. 


150  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

House-to-house  visitations  are  vigorously  carried 
on.  In  addition  to  the  lady  visitors,  a  Bible-woman 
is  employed;  and  nearly  all  the  mission -workers 
take  part  in  seeking  out  the  poor  people  at  their 
homes,  and  in  endeavouring  to  lead  them  not  only 
to  the  district  meeting,  but  to  Christ  Himself. 

As  to  ouvroirs  and  soup-kitchens,  the  report 
gives  the  following  interesting  statement  : — 

"  At  the  beginning  of  this  winter,  one  of  our  lady-workers 
remarked,  '  We  need  something  intermediate,  — a  link  between 
the  public  reunions  and  the  domiciliary  visits.'  In  fact, 
questions  and  difficulties  often  suggest  themselves  to  the 
hearers  respecting  which  they  have  not  courage  to  address 
themselves  to  the  speakers,  but  which  hinder  the  development 
of  the  Divine  work  in  their  heart.  The  ouvroir  is  well  fitted 
to  supply  this  lack.  At  La  Villette.  for  example,  at  a  fixed 
hour  each  Saturday  afternoon,  the  women  and  girls  are  invited 
to  bring  their  work,  of  whatever  kind  (repairing  garments, 
&c.  &c.),  and  they  are  helped  by  a  skilful  seamstress  to  make 
the  best  of  their  poor  materials,  even  to  turn  an  old  dress  into 
a  new  one,  &c.  All  this  produces  a  sentiment  of  gratitude 
which  prepares  the  way  for  each  one  to  make  known  her 
thoughts  and  anxieties.  This  leads  on  to  a  familiar  conversa- 
tion on  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  &c.  Our  two  soup-kitchens 
reach  the  poorest  of  the  poor.  Often,  to  our  certain  knowledge, 
the  basin  of  soup  and  piece  of  bread  thus  received  constitute 
their  entire  nourishment  for  the  day.  While  they  are  assembled, 
we  read  the  Bible,  and  speak  to  them  words  of  love  and 
encouragement.  At  La  Villette,  we  meet  with  some  chiffonniers 
(rag-gatherers)  and  street  sweepers,  who,  working  day  and 
night,  Sundays  included,  are  in  the  deepest  ignorance.  The 
Bible  is,  to  them,  an  entirely  new  book,  and  their  attention 


Progressive  Ingathering.  1 5 1 

is  as  eager  as  their  ignorance  is  extreme.  One  of  these  women, 
a  chiffonniere,  to  whom  we  put  the  question,  '  Who  are  they 
that  go  to  heaven  ? '  replied  in  her  simplicity,  '  The  French.' 
At  Belleville,  a  j^oor  woman  was  complaining,  *  It  is  all  in 
vain  ;  I  have  prayed  again  and  again,  but  God  does  not  hear 
me.'  Another,  as  poor  as  she,  turned  to  her  saying,  '  Oh,  do 
not  speak  so  :  my  circumstances  are  as  trying  as  yours,  but 
God  has  comforted  me,  and  given  me  a  great  blessing.'  The 
latter  is  a  solitary  widow,  having  lost  her  children.  During 
the  last  two  months,  we  have  served  from  1700  to  1800 
rations  at  the  soup-kitchens.  Within  the  same  period,  our 
Bible- woman  has  made  upwards  of  250  visits  in  these  crowded 
and  destitute  districts." 

The  testimony  of  M.  St.  Hilaire  to  all  this  is  very- 
decided.  "  The  people,"  he  writes,  "  more  attentive 
than  ever,  crowd  to  these  meetings,  which  have  not 
for  them  the  attraction  of  novelty  or  amusement ; 
and  in  which,  instead  of  flattering  the  audience,  we 
speak  to  them  many  humxiliating  truths." 

Such  is  the  statement  in  the  letter  which  prefaces 
the  Fifth  Annual  Report.  We  give  the  following 
paragraphs  of  that  letter  entire.  They  are  too 
important  to  be  omitted  : — . 

"You  ask  me  what  new  features  strike  me  in  these  dear 
meetings  whether  in  respect  to  the  hearers  or  the  speakers. 
First,  then,  as  to  the  speakers.  What  strikes  me  especially  is 
that  their  interest  in  this  united  work  increases  from  day  to 
day.  Last  year  on  seeing  your  reunions  constantly  advancing 
in  number  and  in  size,  I  will  now  frankly  say  that  I  was 
disquieted  ;  I  feared  that,  soon,  it  would  be  the  speakers  and 
not  the  hearers  who  w^ould  be  lacking.     This  year,  on  the 


152  The  White  Fields  of  Finance. 

contrary, — not  only  has  tlieir  number  increased  in  a  proportion 
which  will  soon  surpass  the  necessity,  but,  once  enrolled  in 
our  little  army,  pastors  and  laymen  alike  are  evidently  happy 
in  the  service  of  our  glorious  Captain  !  The  laymen  accom- 
plish here  their  apprenticeship  as  speakers,  in  the  best  of  all 
schools  ;  the  pastors  leave  behind  them  at  our  doors  as  they 
enter  the  phraseology  of  set  sermons  in  order  to  speak  the 
language  of  the  heart,  which  alone  is  understood  by  the  masses 
of  the  people.  In  labouring  for  the  good  of  others,  we  find 
blessing  for  ourselves.  All  are  happy,  I  repeat  it  ;  and  how 
could  we  fail  to  be  so,  in  feeling  ourselves  carried  back  to  the 
days  of  the  primitive  church  ;  in  seeing  these  men,  indifferent 
or  hostile  to  religion  a  few  years  ago,  partaking  in  haste  their 
evening  meal  on  leaving  the  workshop,  and  abandoning  the 
wine-shop  and  politics  in  order  to  hear  some  peaceful  Christians 
make  known  to  them  the  Saviour. 

"  To  speak  to  our  ouvriers  of  Paris  is,  truly,  a  pleasant  task ; 
for  I  do  not  know  any  audience  more  intelligent,  more  atten- 
tive, more  sympathetic,  not  even  that  of  the  Sorbonne  or  the 
ColUge  de  France.  Even  their  want  of  culture  ensures  their 
attention  ; — they  do  not  come  in  order  to  criticise  or  to  discuss, 
but  to  feel  and  to  be  moved.  It  is  to  tlieir  heart  that  one  has 
need  to  speak  ;  and  you  will  always  be  far  better  understood 
when  you  do  so  than  if  you  address  yourself  merely  to  their 
intellect. 

"  Another  sign  of  God's  blessing  resting  upon  these  reunions 
is  that  the  number  of  men  frequenting  them  is  constantly 
increasing,  and  this,  some  years  ago,  was  the  failing  point  in 
such  efforts.  Shall  I  go  further]  I  have  perceived,  if  I 
mistake  not,  that  the  men  are  better  hearers  than  the  women  ; 
and  this  can  be  understood,  because  all  that  they  hear  is  new 
to  them  !  All  their  preconceived  notions  are  overthrown, 
surprise  is  seen  on  their  countenances  :  they  feel  that  they 
are  entering  as  into  an  unknown  world,  of  which  even  the 
language  is  foreign  to  them.     So  that  one  needs  some  other 


Progressive  Ingathering.  153 

word  than  list&n  to  describe  tlieir  impassioned  attention  when  we 
speak  to  them  of  the  Gospel.  Its  tender  appeals  go  straightway 
to  their  heart ;  and  then  they  feel  that  they  are  loved.  There 
lies  our  power  over  them  ;  and  it  is  the  only  power  we  possess, 
we,  who  are  bnt  poor  worms  of  the  earth,  in  dealing  with  these 
momentous  realities,  which  we  could  not  take  upon  our  lips 
without  trembling,  unless  we  felt  that  Jesus  is  with  us,  and 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  dictates  to  us  what  we  should  speak. 

"  Some  days  ago,  I  was  present  at  the  meeting  of  Faubourg 
St.  Antoine,  the  one  of  all  your  stations  which  is  my  favourite, 
because  it  is  most  tlioroughly  a  gathering  of  the  populace.  I 
had  begun  to  speak  when  I  saw  five  young  workmen,  genuine 
bandits  (forgive  the  word),  walk  into  the  room,  who  appeared 
to  have  come  straight  from  the  drinking  shop.  Although 
accustomed  to  the  wonderful  calmness  which  reigns  in  these 
meetings  (you  remember  that  it  was  not  always  so  at  the  outset), 
I  confess  that  I  was  a  little  disquieted  ;  and,  as  I  went  on  to 
speak,  I  kept  my  eye  upon  the  new-comers.  But,  when 
seated,  how  speedily  they  became  subdued  and  attracted  in 
the  sweet  atmosphere  of  peace  and  of  sympathy  !  After  some 
minutes,  you  would  not  have  recognised  them  ;  the  expression 
of  their  countenance  was  quite  changed,  le  gamin  de  Paris  had 
disappeared,  and  had  given  place,  if  not,  as  yet,  to  the  Christian, 
at  least  to  the  thoughtful  and  well-disposed  listener.  The 
gospel  Avhich  they  heard,  doubtless  for  the  first  time,  had  thus 
come  home  to  them. 

"  Another  feature  of  progress  is  in  the  size  of  the  mission- 
halls,  which  increases  along  with  the  number  of  attendants. 
Most  of  the  insignificant  shops  which,  in  the  beginning,  were 
sufficient  for  the  purpose,  have  given  place  to  larger  rooms, 
which  are,  with  equal  ease,  filled.  It  is  well  known  that  in 
these  large  gatherings  of  human  beings  there  is  a  sacred  con- 
tagion which  no  one  can  resist,  and  which  is  spread  around 
by  those  who  have  felt  it.  Then  it  is  that  people  feel  them- 
selves brought  nearer  to  each  other,  and  more  happy,  and 


154  ^^^^  White  Fields  of  F^-ance. 

they  desire  to  share  with  others  what  they  have  received. 
Our  large  rooms  will  contain — Belleville,  400  ;  St.  Antoine, 
370  ;  Ornano,  320  ;  and  the  new  hall  opened  this  week  in  the 
Kue  de  Rivoli,  270  persons  when  filled. 

"  The  Bible  classes  for  adults  are  also  making  progress,  and 
the  Sunday  schools  are  more  and  more  numerously  attended. 
As  to  the  music,  among  these  people,  generally  far  from 
musical,  it  has  become  quite  a  passion.  At  the  last  meeting 
I  attended,  when  a  singing  practice  was  announced  to  follow 
it,  no  one  went  out,  the  whole  assembly  joined  in  the  hymns, 
in  imison  generally,  but  with  considerable  correctness,  I  assure 
you,  and  without  any  harsh  discord.  I  perceived  there  the 
close  link  which  exists  between  music  and  the  religious  senti- 
ment, and  I  became  conscious  that  the  hymn  could  become 
also  a  prayer. 

"  Such,  dear  friend,  are  my  impressions  respecting  your  work, 
jotted  down  in  all  simplicity.  I  have  tried  to  cause  others  to 
feel  what  I  have  myself  vividly  felt.  Would  that  the  Lord 
might  enable  me  to  communicate  to  your  readers  the  ever- 
increasing  interest  which  this  delightful  work  awakes  in  my 
heart!"  " 

The  new-year's  gatherings  drew  out  some  mem- 
orable testimonies  as  to  the  results  of  tlie  past  work. 
An  ouvrier  of  M^nilraontant  writes  thus  to  Mr. 
M'All,  in  his  own  name  and  that  of  his  wife ;  and 
nothing  can  be  more  satisfactory  than  the  follow- 
ing statement : — "  The  day  on  which  we  entered 
your  meeting  for  the  first  time,  now  two  years  ago, 
was  for  us  a  day  blessed  by  God  ;  and  from  the 
day  in  which  we  accepted  for  ourselves  the  glorious 
Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus   Christ,   we  have  found 


Progressive  Ingathering.  155 

peace  of  mind ;  and  I  am  well  persuaded  that  the 
only  real  happiness  which  can  be  tasted  on  earth 
is  to  be  found  in  accepting  the  salvation  which  our 
divine  Lord  and  Saviour  has  obtained  for  us,  in 
shedding  for  us  poor  sinners  His  blood  upon  the 
cross.  I  desire  with  all  my  heart  that  all  those 
who  attend  those  delightful  meetings  may  there  find 
the  same  joy  and  blessedness  which  my  wife  and  I 
have  found  there.  We  thank  God  every  day  for 
having  sent  you  among  us  to  proclaim  to  us  the 
sacred  and  divine  truth." 

Some  leagues  from  Paris,  the  head  of  a  family 
died.  For  the  funeral,  the  neighbouring  pastor  was 
sent  for  to  officiate.  The  family  were  not  of  his 
flock  ;  and  finding  himself  surrounded  with  strangers, 
he  asked,  "  Why  did  you  send  for  me  ?  "  He  was 
told  that  the  master  of  the  house,  whose  funeral  he 
was  thus  invited  to,  had  been  occasionally  in  Paris 
on  business,  and  had  come  upon  one  of  the  meet- 
ings. Again  and  again,  when  business  led  him 
back  to  the  city,  he  returned  to  the  meeting ;  and 
the  testimony  of  the  relatives  was,  that  from  that 
time  he  was  a  changed  man.  There  was  no  gospel 
in  his  neighbourhood,  and  the  tidings  had  been 
heard  by  him  at  the  station,  to  which  he  was 
"  accidentally  "  brought,  for  the  first  time. 

*'  These  are  the  things  for  which  we  are  thirsting," 


156  The  WJiite  Fields  of  Finance, 

said  a  soldier  one  day  at  one  of  the  meetings. 
"  This  is  what  we  need,  and  what  we  want  to  learn," 
said  some  soldiers  on  leaving  the  Rue  Turbigo 
meeting  one  night ;  "  we  never  hear  anything  like 
this  in  the  caserne  "  (barracks). 

The  Bible-class  meetings  are  all  full  of  interest, 
and  the  written  answers  to  the  questions  put  show 
the  intelligence  of  the  young  people.  "  How  does 
one  know  that  God  has  forgiven  him  ? "  was  one  of 
these  questions,  and  the  answers  on  slips  of  paper 
were  striking  testimonies  to  the  operation  of  divine 
truth  in  the  writers.  Once  the  entire  meeting 
remained  to  the  Bible  class ;  and  at  some  of  these 
meetings  perplexed  ones  have  been  disentangled, 
doubting  ones  brought  into  light,  and  undecided 
ones  made  decided,  and  led  to  set  out  on  a  career 
of  usefulness.  The  shaking  of  hands  which  goes  on 
at  such  times  among  these  lively  French  people, 
both  old  and  young,  is  pleasant  to  witness. 

Many  of  the  boys  are  warmly  interested  in  the 
meetings.  ''Ground  should  be  bought  here,"  said  one 
of  them  on  seeing  the  crowded  room  of  La  Villette, 
"  on  which  to  build  a  great  temn^yle,  that  the  whole 
neighbourhood  may  come  and  hear  the  blessed  words 
of  the  Saviour."  Another,  while  eagerly  listening 
to  the  speaker,  was  angrily  forced  away  by  his 
father.     Next  evening,  all  was  changed.     The  father. 


Progressive  Ingatheriiig.  157 

neatly  dressed,  brought  his  boy  back  in  the  most 
friendly  manner. 

''  Sir,  it  was  in  this  room  that  I  found  my 
Saviour,"  said  the  father  of  a  family  to  Mr.  M'All 
at  the  Grenelle  meeting,  as  he  grasped  his  hand. 
"  I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart,"  said  an  ouvrieroi 
Montmartre,  Avhen  leaving  Paris, ''  for  these  reunions. 
I  have  attended  for  a  year  and  a-half,  and  I  am  a 
changed  man, — yes,  sir,  a  changed  onan."  His  life 
showed  the  nature  and  reality  of  the  change. 

The  new  room  at  Passy  was  opened,  and,  at  the 
meetings  there,  cheering  testimony  was  borne  to  the 
blessing  received  in  the  old.  In  one  family  the 
representatives  of  three  generations  have  come  under 
the  power  of  the  Gospel.  The  utterances  of  joyful 
thankfulness  by  the  old  grandmother,  ninety  years 
of  age,  were  most  touching. 

The  keepers  of  the  omnibus  bureaus  have  very 
hard  work.  They  have  no  Sabbath;  seven  days 
without  a  break  is  their  weekly  labour.  One  of 
them  was  full  of  gratitude  for  copies  of  the  L'Ami 
de  la  Maison,  and  mentioned  how  carefully  he  had 
preserved  them.  He  spoke  of  friendshij)  among 
Christians.  Mr.  M'AU  replied,  "  True,  my  friend,  we 
are  all  brethren."  "  Yes,  sir,"  said  he,  "brethren  in 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  are  we  not  ?  " 

The  La  Chapelle  station,  like  most  of  the  others,  is 


158  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

surrounded  by  the  houses  of  the  poor.  By  the  side 
of  it  was  the  dwelling  of  an  aged  man  of  seventy-six, 
who  at  this  advanced  time  of  life  was  still  obliged 
to  work  for  his  bread.  His  working  hours  did  not 
allow  him  to  attend  at  the  beginning  of  the  meet- 
ing ;  but  he  used  to  steal  in  towards  the  close  into 
a  corner  and  listen.  The  visitors  found  him  on  a 
death-bed,  but  resting  on  the  one  sacrifice  of  the  Son 
of  God,  for  pardon  and  entrance  into  the  kingdom. 
"  Only  one  Physician,"  he  said,  ''  can  help  me  ;  but 
He  can  do  all.  No  fellow-man  can  help  another  to 
get  rid  of  his  sins ;  God  only  can."  The  meeting 
had  not  been  opened  in  vain  beside  the  lodging 
of  this  stranger.  It  had  been  to  him  the  gate  of 
heaven. 

"  Wife,  wife,  I  have  found  such  a  religion  as  I 
never  thought  existed ;  it  is  so  good,  so  good ;  you 
must  come  also."  A  poor  man  spoke  these  bright 
words  on  returning  home  from  one  of  the  meetings. 
He  had  been  passing  the  door,  and  was  invited  to 
enter,  which  he  did.  The  light  shone  in  upon  his 
darkness ;  and  he  brought  his  wife  and  two  children 
with  him.    They  all  continue  in  regular  attendance. 

"  Strange  that  he  understands  so  much  there, 
when  elsewhere  he  cannot  be  taught  anything." 
Such  was  the  expression  of  astonishment  by  the 
relatives  of  a  poor  boy  of  fourteen,  whose  intellect 


Progressive  Ingathering.  159 

had  up  till  that  time  been  almost  dormant.  He  is 
the  son  of  respectable  parents,  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances; and  from  the  first  time  that  he  came 
to  the  mission-room  evinced,  as  the  report  says,  an 
all-absorbing  interest  in  what  he  heard.  The  Bible 
class  is  his  favourite  meeting  :  and  his  intellect  has 
been  wakened  up,  by  the  news  of  a  Saviour's  love,  to 
new  capacities,  and  his  heart  to  new  susceptibilities. 
The  Spirit  of  God  has  been  his  Teacher,  and  he  has 
learned  quickly. 

On  the  staircases  of  houses,  not  only  children  but 
grown-up  persons  may  be  found  seated  pursuing 
their  ordinary  occupations,  and  at  the  same  time 
singing  the  Mission  hymns.  One  of  the  missionary 
students,  superintendent  of  the  Gare  d'lvry  Sunday 
School,  when  visiting  in  that  poor  and  neglected 
district,  heard  voices  thus  singing, — 

"  Sur  toi  je  me  repose  ;" 
and, — 

"  Le  message  des  anges." 

Not  a  few  children  have  intelligently  professed 
their  faith  in  Christ.  At  Grenelle,  Signer  Peretto 
questioned  carefully  a  boy  of  thirteen,  and  received, 
in  the  presence  of  friends,  most  satisfying  answers, 
expressive  of  his  acceptance  of  the  Saviour  and  His 
work.  At  Belleville  also  a  similar  case  occurred ; 
and,  in  another  station,  the  children  have  expressed 


i6o  The  WJiite  Fields  of  Fra7ice. 

a  desire  to  commence  a  prayer  meeting  among 
themselves.  A  young  man  at  another  station  had 
expressed  his  assurance  of  acceptance  in  Christ; 
and  mentioned  that  he  and  another  youth  had  begun 
to  read  the  Bible  together  and  to  pray  every  day. 
This  other  youth  had  also  found  peace  in  believing. 

"  I  could  give  the  names,"  says  a  devoted  visitor, 
Avho  had  during  the  year  1876  paid  950  visits  in 
the  houses  of  the  people,  "  of  forty-two  persons  who 
have  become  earnest  seekers,  twenty-nine  women 
and  thirteen  men.  I  have  met  this  year  with 
seven  women  and  two  men  who  gave  evidence  of 
thorough  decision  for  Christ."  She  speaks,  too,  of 
a  very  general  and  earnest  desire  to  understand  the 
truth,  and  mentions  four  households  in  which  family 
worship  has  been  established ;  also  two  families 
who  meet  together  every  evening  to  read  the  Bible. 
''  Saved  or  lost?"  said  an  ouvrier,  who  used  to  spend 
all  his  Sunday  evenings  in  the  wine-shop,  but  now 
regularly  attends  the  district  meeting ;  "  Saved  or 
lost?  I  find  this  question  to  be  a  most  serious  one; 
it  occupies  all  my  thoughts,  and  I  want  to  come  to 
a  decision." 

"Le  salut  gratidV  is  a  wonder  to  many;  and  M. 
Naef,  among  several  instances  of  awakening  that 
had  come  under  his  notice,  mentions  one  whose  eyes 
had  been  opened  to  see  this  fjTcUuitous  salvation, 


Progressive  Ingathering.  i6i 

which  to  all  men,  but  especially  to  Romanists, — 
who  have  been  accustomed  to  pay  for  everything  in 
religion,  and  to  look  on  the  priest  as  a  huckster 
bargaining  for  a  good  price  in  the  market, — is  a 
thing  hard  to  be  believed,  or  even  understood.  On 
comprehending  the  freeness  of  this  free  salvation 
for  the  first  time,  he  had  given  vent  to  some  strong 
expressions  of  his  new-found  joy  and  wonder. 

Feeely  saved  !  It  is  this  that  everywhere 
calls  forth  the  feelings  and  utterances  of  astonish- 
ment in  those  whose  eyes  have  rested  on  the  cross 
of  the  Substitute.  ''  And  have  I  nothing  to  do  V 
said  a  dying  man  once  to  us,  as  we  preached  to  him 
Jesus  and  His  sufficiency.  '"  Nothing,  absolutely 
and  entirely  nothing,  in  order  to  be  saved,"  was  our 
reply.  ''AH  is  done:  it  is  the  doing  of  another  that 
saves."  His  eye  brightened,  and  he  passed  away 
in  peace,  with  nunc  dimittis  in  his  heart,  if  not 
on  his  lips.  Some  very  bright  instances  of  this  we 
find  in  the  story  of  Robert  Haldane's  wonderful 
work  at  Montauban,  more  thaii  sixty  years  ago. 

"Je  suis  un  grand  pecheur  onais  fai  un  grand 
Repondant.''  These  were  the  death- bed  words  of 
M.  Encontre,  Principal  of  the  Montauban  College,  to 
Mr.  Haldane,  on  bidding  farewell.  This  distinguished 
mathematician  and  philosopher  had  been  a  strong 

Arminian  in  theology;  but  was  led  to  the  knowledge 

M 


1 62  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

of  the  One  Righteousness  through  faith,  by  Mr. 
Haldane.  Speculation,  philosophy,  dogmatism,  self- 
righteousness  stood  between  him  and  the  cross.  But 
they  had  all  given  way.  As  a  sinner  he  looked  at 
last  to  the  Sinbearer,  and  found  rest. 

*'  C'est  trop  grand  2^our  etre  vrai  r  was  the 
vehement  exclamation  of  the  French  pastor,  when, 
in  an  evening  walk  on  the  banks  of  the  Tarn,  Mr. 
Haldane  pressed  upon  him  the  words  on  the  cross, 
"  It  is  finished  !"  He  had  been  strongly  opposed  to 
the  idea  of  salvation  by  another's  doings  ;  and,  when 
the  light  burst  in  upon  him,  he  could  not  contain 
himself  for  gladness.  The  tidings  of  his  new-found 
joy  were  conveyed  to  his  aged  father,  above  eighty; 
and  the  same  joy  took  possession  of  him,  so  that  the 
whole  household  were  affected  as  they  saw  the  old 
man  going  about  the  house  clasping  his  hands  and 
joyfully  exclaiming,  "  Tout  est  accompli  .'"^ 

But  my  narrative  must  return  to  Paris ;  and  the 
little  incidents  recorded  in  the  reports  give  a  faith- 
ful description  of  the  work  itself,  without  ornament 
or  eloquence. 

"  Je  suis  scelle  pour  la  gloire, 
J'avance  vers  mon  pays; 
Ecoutez  tous  mon  histoire 
Et  I'amour  de  J^sus  Christ 

*  Memoirs  of  R.  and  J.  A.  Haldane,  pp.  467-8. 


Progressive  Ingathering.  163 

Jesus  mon  ami  supreme 

Sur  moi  veille  ;  il  I'a  promis ; 

J'aime  Jesu,  Jesu  m'aime 

Comme  uii  berger  sa  brebis." 

At  a  poor  bedside  in  Les  Ternes  these  words  were 
repeated  by  a  visitor  to  a  dying  girl  of  fifteen. 
"  Yes,  yes,"  was  her  brief  but  earnest  response. 
Just  before  she  died  she  tried  to  sing, — 

"  Avangons-nous  j  oyeux,  touj  ours  j  oy eux, 
Vers  le  pays  des  esprits  bienlieureux 
Vers  la  demeure  oii  Jesus  pour  nous  prie : 
Marclions  j  oyeux,  c'est  la  notre  patrie." 

As  we  glance  over  the  report  for  1876,  we  are 
interested  in  the  headings  of  the  paragraphs,  as  show- 
ing the  nature  of  the  expansion  which  is  taking  place. 
They  are  such  as  the  following  : — ''  utility  of  large 
rooms;"  "new  central  station;"  "  new  stations  and 
enlargements  ; "  "  financial  position  ;  "  "  workers  ;  " 
"occasional  helpers;"  ''adult  Bible  classes;"  ''prayer 
meetings  ;"  "  miscellaneous  meetings  ;"  "  domiciliary 
visitation  ;  "  "  lending  libraries  ;  "  "  Bibles,  tracts, 
magazines ; "  "  hymns  and  hymn-books."  By  this 
time  the  number  of  stations  had  risen  to  19,  and 
the  sittings  to  3700.  The  average  weekly  attend- 
ance at  adult  meetings  was  5500;  and  at  Sunday 
schools  and  services  for  the  young,  2000.  I  add 
one  extract : — 

"  Each,  advance  which  we  have  been  enabled  to  make  in 


164  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

accommodation  lias  been  followed  by  a  fully  corresponding 
increase  in  the  number  of  hearers.  Thus  our  present  fine  room 
in  Belleville,  opened  in  October,  1875,  instead  of  the  former 
small  and  inconvenient  one,  has  twice  required  subsequent 
enlargement  in  order  to  receive  the  crowded  Sunday  evening 
congregations.  We  obtained  in  the  spring  a  large  '  Qajz 
Concert  in  the  Faubourg  St.  Antoine,  and  converted  it  into  a 
mission-room  to  replace  the  former  one,  little  more  than  one- 
third  the  size.  This  spacious  place  is  quite  insufficient  to 
contain  the  numbers  who  flock  to  it.  On  the  Sunday  evening, 
it  is  usual  for  many  to  have  to  remain  standing  to  the  close. 
In  the  cases  of  at  least  two  others  of  our  older  stations  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that,  if  we  were  warranted  in  incurring  the 
increased  rental,  rooms  two  or  three  times  the  size  would  be 
immediately  filled  with  eager  listeners. 

"  At  our  station  of  Boulevard  Ornano,  Montmartre,  which 
has  been  constantly  advancing  in  attendance  and  interest 
during  the  four  and  a-half  years  of  its  existence,  we  have  the 
prospect  of  speedily  adding  two  hundred  sittings.  Our  gener- 
ous friend,  Captain  Knox,  R.N.,  is  prepared  to  help  us  to  meet 
the  cost,  in  memory  of  his  late  wife,  whose  heart  was  greatly 
set  upon  evangelisation  in  France,  and  with  whose  name  our 
remote  station  of  the  Gare  d'lvry  (evidently  made  a  blessing 
amidst  its  dark  and  neglected  district)  is  associated ;  she  having 
provided  the  means  for  its  foundation  and  support. 

"  Though  much  blessing  has  rested  upon  our  room  in  the 
Rue  Turbigo,  we  have  long  felt  the  desirableness  of  securing 
a  larger  place  of  meeting  in  the  neighbourhood  between  the 
^Holies  Centrales^  and  'Hotel  de  Ville,^  where  a  daily  evangel- 
istic meeting  might  be  held,  similar  to  that  sustained  by  Pastor 
Armand-Delille  in  the  Rue  Roy  ale.  Mr.  Martin  Sutton,  jun., 
of  Reading,  and  some  other  friends,  having  most  kindly  offered 
to  contribute  a  part  of  the  rental,  we  were  encouraged  to  seek 
out  and  hire  a  suitable  locality.  It  is  a  very  neat  room,  con- 
taining 270  sittings,  well  placed  on  the  great  Rue  de  Rivoli, 


Progressive  Ingathermg,  165 

near  the  well-known  Tour  St.  Jacques.  Here  it  is  our  purpose, 
every  evening  and  on  the  Sunday  afternoon,  to  invite  the 
passers-by  to  hear  the  Gospel-message.  We  earnestly  ask  the 
prayers  of  many  that  this  new  and  arduous  enterprise  may  be 
abundantly  blessed.  In  order  to  meet  the  unavoidably  heavy 
rental,  we  shall  have  need  of  generous  contributions.  This  new 
station  was  opened  December  28th.  Most  suitable  addresses 
were  delivered  on  the  occasion  by  the  pastors  Armand-Delille, 
Recolin,  and  Fisch,  and  by  the  Rev.  E.  W.  Hitchcock,  as  the 
representative  of  our  American  friends.  We  are  much  encour- 
aged by  the  deep  attention  of  the  hearers,  many  of  whom, 
doubtless,  listen  for  the  first  time  to  the  Gospel.  The  co- 
operation of  M.  Theodore  Monod  is  invaluable  in  launching 
this  momentous  enterprise. 

"  In  order  not  to  leave  the  immediate  vicinity  of  our  former 
room,  Rue  Turbigo,  unprovided  for,  we  have  arranged  to  hold 
two  evangelistic  meetings  weekly  in  the  chapel  of  our  valued 
friend,  Dr.  Fisch,  Rue  Chariot." 

The  testimony  of  the  Rev.  Horace  Noel,  in  a 
letter  of  date,  ''Paris,  September  12,  1876,"  to  Mr. 
M'All,  is  well  worth  recording  here  : — all  the  more 
because  of  its  reference  to  the  ''  storms  of  atheistic 
opposition  "  which  the  Mission  had  to  encounter  at 
some  of  the  stations  in  its  earlier  days  : — 

"  Having  had  this  year,  for  the  fifth  time,  the  privilege  of 
helping  to  carry  on  your  Mission  during  your  absence,  I  gladly 
give  my  testimony  to  the  wonderful  success  with  which  it  has 
pleased  God  to  crown  your  labours.  No  one,  I  think,  who 
has  taken  part  in  the  Avork  can  doubt  that  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  has  been  evidently  displayed  in  it. 

"  I  first  attended  your  meetings  in  October,  1872,  when  it 
was  scarcely  nine  months  since  they  began,  and  when  you  had 


1 66  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

but  four  stations  opened:  namely,  Belleville,  Menilmontant, 
Boulevard  Ornano,  and  Cliaronne.  Of  these,  that  of  Boulevard 
Ornano  was  by  far  the  largest  and  most  promising,  although 
the  storms  of  atheistic  opposition  which  attended  its  early  days 
had  not,  I  believe,  long  subsided. 

"  But.  I  suppose  that  the  united  attendance  at  all  these  four 
rooms  hardly  averaged  more  than  may  now  be  seen  in  the  one 
room  at  the  Faubourg  St.  Antoine. 

"  Since  then  I  have  seen  the  number  of  your  stations  gra- 
dually increased  from  four  to  eighteen,  small  congregations 
changed  into  large  ones,  and  audiences  that  were  more  or  less 
unsettled  and  disorderly  becoming  almost  entirely  composed 
of  serious  and  attentive  hearers.  Your  success  in  enlisting 
workers  of  both  nations  and  of  various  Churches,  and  bringing 
them  into  harmonious  and  brotherly  co-operation,  has  also 
been  very  noteworthy. 

"  But  what  most  of  all  assures  me  that  God's  blessing  has 
rested  on  your  work  is  the  examples  which  I  have  seen  of 
those  who,  by  means  of  it,  have  been  brought  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Saviour;  and  who  are  now  showing  forth  His 
praise,  not  only  with  their  lips,  but  in  their  lives.  Patience 
and  energy,  and  wise  arrangements,  might  suffice  to  assemble 
large  and  attentive  audiences,  but  every  soul  rescued  out  of 
Satan's  power  and  brought  to  the  feet  of  Christ  is  a  result 
which  no  human  toil  or  human  skill,  apart  from  God's  own 
working,  could  have  effected." 

It  is  in  this  year  (187G)  that  we  have  the  first 
report  of  the  work  among  the  children  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  A.  A.  Maitland  Heriot.  This 
juvenile  field  is  of  course  very  large,  and  hitherto 
utterly  neglected.  The  Church  of  Rome  is  the 
Church  of  money,  and  concerns  herself  chiefly  with 


Progressive  Ingathering.  167 

those  who  can  pay.  As  a  rule,  children  "don't 
pay."  They  are  not  a  lucrative  concern  to  the 
priest,  except  at  baptism  and  confirmation  and  com- 
munion. Besides,  the  children  of  Paris  are,  like 
their  parents,  considerably  disconnected  from  the 
priesthood.  The  priest  is  not  now  the  master  of  the 
family.  The  young  people  have  gathered  into  the 
mission-halls  in  great  numbers,  both  as  parts  of  the 
general  audience  and  in  meetings  for  themselves. 
Mr.  Heriot's  work  has  been  a  very  earnest  and  suc- 
cessful one,  and  his  reports  will  be  read  with  deep 
interest.  He  has  had  a  considerable  staif  of  fellow- 
labourers  ;  and  the  assistance  he  has  had  from  some 
zealous  self-denying  ladies  has  been  very  valuable. 
Gladly  should  I  have  given  this  first  report  in  full,, 
but  space  hinders,  and  I  must  content  myself  with 
the  followiug  extracts  : — 

"  We  seek  also  to  become  acquainted  mth  our  little  hearers 
personally,  hoping  that  their  love  for  us  may  lead  to  a  love 
for  their  great  unknown  Friend.  Many  visits  have  been  paid 
with  this  object  in  view,  especially  to  any  we  heard  were  ill 
or  in  hospital.  Another  important  addition  to  our  work  has 
been  the  formation  of  several  young  people's  Bible  classes. 
These  classes,  conducted  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  all  comers 
feel  at  home,  are  likely  to  do  much  good.  They  are  destined 
for  the  older  and  more  thoughtful  children.  These  poor, 
ignorant  ones  have  seldom  the  most  elementary  knowledge  of 
evangelical  truth.  Such  terms  as  '  conversion,'  or  '  washed  in 
the  blood  of  Christ,'  have  no  meaning  for  them,  and  at  first 
often  cause  amusement.     Five  such  Bible  classes  have  been 


1 68  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

"begun,  and  we  hope  soon  to  see  more  of  llieni  in  operation. 
A  Christian  lady,  gifted  for  this  work  in  a  more  than  ordinary- 
degree,  has  been,  in  the  providence  of  God,  and  in  answer  to 
many  prayers,  sent  to  undertake  it.  We  have  also  to  thank 
Miss  Emma  Leigh  (whose  sister's  work  among  English  girls  in 
Paris  is  so  widely  known  and  so  widely  beneficial)  for  her 
valuable  help  in  this  way,  and  hope  that  it  may  be  long  con- 
tinued. 

"  A  gigantic  and  almost  virgin  field  of  labour  is  open  to  us 
in  the  young  men  of  this  city.  The  name  of  their  temptations 
is  Legion,  for  they  are  many.  If  there  is  one  city  in  the  world 
more  than  another  Avhich  is  the  sink  and  sepulchre  of  young 
men,  that  city  is  Paris.  We  have  not,  alas  !  so  far  been  able 
to  start  more  than  two  young  men's  meetings,  but  arrange- 
ments are  now  pending  with  a  man  suitable  for  this  work, 
at  present  serjeant-major  in  a  well-known  cavalry  regiment, 
but  willing  to  renounce  his  position,  and  his  prospects  of 
earthly  glory,  to  carry  on  the  conquests  of  the  Eternal  king- 
dom. We  hope  that  ere  long  his  arrival  here  will  open  the 
way  for  more  energetic  measures  among  both  young  men  and 
children. 

"  Two  young  women's  meetings  have  also  been  commenced 
in  localities  which,  by  their  vicinity  to  factories,  invited  such 
a  step.  Miss  Bonnycastle  has  devoted  a  portion  of  her  time  to 
one  of  these,  which  is  preceded  by  an  English  class  ;  and  Miss 
Matheson,  to  whose  welcome  arrival  we  have  already  alluded, 
ably  conducts  the  other.  Christian  ladies  could  not  wish  for 
a  wider  or  more  pressing  mission  than  that  presented  by  these 
young  girls,  especially  in  those  quarters  of  Paris  where  abso- 
lutely nothing  is  being  done  for  them.  The  young  women 
stand  in  as  great  need  of  the  Gospel  as  the  young  men.  Those 
of  the  ouvriere  class  work  for  the  most  part  in  factories,  where 
there  is  much  that  is  evil.  In  the  evening,  numerous  balls 
are  open,  where  there  is  plenty  of  light  and  glitter  and  society 
— there,  no  doubt,  a  very  pleasant,  but  a  very  deadly,  evening 


Progressive  Ingathering.  169 

may  be  passed.  Witlioiit  the  ties  of  home,  as  we  know  them, 
and  surrounded  by  gay  companions  all  day  long,  what  can  be 
expected  of  a  poor  Parisian  girl,  who  knows  not  the  Saviour  % " 

"  It  has  been  interesting  to  watch  the  transformations  that 
have  occurred  in  the  behaviour  of  different  children  ;  the 
irregular  often  becoming  more  regular  in  their  attendance — 
restless  and  talkative  ones  beginning  to  listen,  and  a  good 
many  becoming  seriously  attentive.  A  few  days  ago,  at  Bercy, 
a  little  girl  of  ten  or  eleven  took  my  hand,  and  when  I  stooped 
down  to  hear  what  she  had  to  say,  she  made  this  brief  com- 
munication,— '  Monsieur,  j'ai  donne  mon  coeur  a  Jesus.' 

"  The  band  of  Christian  friends  who  devote  themselves 
entirely  to  this  mission,  at  present  numbers  four.  An  increase 
of  the  staff  of  workers  being  necessary  for  an  extension  of  the 
work,  this  number  will  (D.V.)  soon  be  augmented.  We  shall 
continually  endeavour  to  obtain  the  assistance  of  such  as  are 
not  only  excellent  as  regards  Christian  consistency,  but  who 
are  also,  by  adaptation  for  our  particular  kind  of  work,  and 
by  earnest  prayerfulness,  likely  to  be  successful  soul- winners. 
'  They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firma- 
ment ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars 
for  ever  and  ever.'  Let  us  endeavour  to  turn  to  righteousness 
many  of  the  boys  and  girls  who  are  already  in  the  vortex  of 
the  great  whirlpool  of  vice  and  wickedness,  which  sucks  so 
many  down  to  perdition.  Oh  for  a  word  of  power  to  reach 
their  hearts,  and  a  steady  hand  to  point  them  to  the  cross  ! 

"  One  very  pleasant  feature,  perhaps  I  should  say  result,  of 
our  work,  is  the  evident  love  and  gratitude  of  the  children 
towards  us.  These  sentiments  are  sometimes  too  vociferously 
expressed  by  rounds  of  applause  upon  our  entering  an  assembly 
of  young  urchins  ;  sometimes  by  childish  letters  of  thanks. 
Here  is  one  from  a  little  girl,  who  wrote  what  she  felt  too  shy 
to  say.     I  do  not  venture  to  spoil  it  by  translation  : — 

" '  Monsieur,  Je  vous  prie  de  m'excuser  si  je  me  permets  de 
vous  ecrire  ces  quelques  lignes,  ne  sachant  pas  mieux  faire. 


170  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

Voiis  me  demandez  souvent  si  je  suis  sauvee.  Oiii,  je  suis 
saiivee.  J'aime  notre  Seigneur  Jesus-Clirist,  et  j'en  suis  aimee. 
Je  suis  toujours  avec  lui,  et  il  veille  toujours  sur  nioi ;  sans 
Dieu  je  ne  serais  jamais  heureuse.  Monsieur,  je  vous  remercie 
des  bons  conseils  que  vous  m'avez  donnee  bien  souvent.  Je  vous 
presente  mes  respects  les  plus  reconnaissants. — Juliette  P.' " 

The  year  1877  does  not  slacken  in  its  work,  nor 
diminish  in  the  interest  of  its  details.  The  stations 
are  now  twenty-two ;  the  meetings  full,  and  all 
bearing  fruit.  Of  the  workers,  some  have  left,  and 
some  have  returned.  The  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds,  from 
Edinburgh,  with  his  wife,  join  the  Mission  as  per- 
manent workers.  But  the  field  is  still  too  large  for 
the  number  and  the  strength  of  the  labourers.  The 
call  for  labourers  is  urgent ;  and  still  more  the  call 
for  prayer  in  behalf  of  those  already  in  the  field. 
The  Lord  of  the  harvest  waits  to  be  interceded  with. 
There  are  no  doubt,  in  the  case  of  France,  the  un- 
answered prayers  of  past  generations  still  in  store ; 
and  God  is  not  unrighteous  to  forget  the  cry  of  the 
martyrs  of  other  days ;  but  He  is  waiting  for  new 
cries,  and  is  easy  to  be  entreated. 

M.  St.  Hilaire,  dating  from  "  Paris,  December  16, 
1877,"  thus  writes  his  impressions  of  the  year  ;  and 
as  he  has,  with  unwearied  zeal,  thrown  himself  into 
the  work,  his  successive  testimonies  are  very  valu- 
able. He  writes  as  a  scholar  and  a  Christian  ;  as 
one  who  knows  Paris  and  its  population  well : — 


Progressive  Ingathering.  171 

"  "When  you  ventured  to  establish  a  daily  meeting  in  the 
centre  of  Paris,  in  a  quarter  entirely  devoted  to  business,  I 
was,  I  acknowledge,  surprised,  almost  alarmed,  at  your  bold- 
ness. Among  your  twenty-two  stations,  this  was  the  only  one 
opened  daily,  and  I  could  scarcely  believe  that  it  would  ever 
become  filled. 

"  How,  then,  shall  I  describe  my  astonishment  and  my  joy 
when,  entering  this  mission-hall,  doubled  in  size,  and  which 
now  can  accommodate  nearly  300  persons,  I  saw  it  filled,  all 
the  chairs  occupied,  and  some  hearers  standing.  In  meetings 
of  this  kind  the  women  usually  form  the  majority.  But  there, 
amidst  that  business  quarter,  where  life  is  so  laborious  and 
moments  are  so  precious,  at  least  four-fifths  of  the  attendants 
were  men,  and  among  them,  marvellous  to  say,  the  majority 
were  young  men.  A  certain  neatness  and  superiority  of  appear- 
ance indicated  a  class  somewhat  above  that  of  the  usual  fre- 
quenters of  these  meetings.  Evidently  there  were  among  them, 
as  in  every  case,  workmen  and  artisans  ;  but  there  were  also 
tradesmen's  assistants,  shopkeepers,  and  clerks.  This  class, 
which,  in  Paris,  we  rarely  see  in  our  churches,  and  which  we 
despair  to  reach, — these  young  men,  so  busied  during  the  day, 
so  eager  to  seek  their  pleasures  in  the  evenmg,  were  there  in 
numbers, — attentive,  serious,  drinking  in  the  word  of  life,  for 
them  so  new  that  it  seemed  as  if  they  were  hearing  it  for  the 
first  time. 

"  I  watched  them  attentively,  prepared  to  detect  on  their 
countenances  the  smile  of  derision-  or  incredulity — but,  no  ! 
they  were  there  respectful,  spell-bound,  their  looks  as  well  as 
their  ears  engaged  in  receiving  each  word,  which  entered  into 
their  heart  as  the  seed  into  the  earth,  there  to  yield  its  fruit. 
I  venture  to  affirm,  dear  friend,  that  for  one  acquainted  with 
the  youth  of  Paris,  so  greedy  of  amusement,  so  little  in- 
clined to  serious  things,  the  scene  presented  a  complete 
revolution  ! 

"  A  word,  now,  respecting  our  working  classes.     It  is  not 


172  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

my  habit  to  flatter  my  country  ;  but  foreigners  tliemselves  have 
clone  homage  to  tlie  prudence  and  seK-restraint  manifested  by 
the  people  of  France  during  the  painful  crisis  which  has  recently 
passed.  But  this  wonderful  wisdom,  to  which  assuredly  we 
had  not  been  habituated,  to  what  do  we  owe  it,  if  not  to  the 
influence  of  the  Gospel  which  commences  to  spread  itself  among 
the  industrious  classes  % — for  our  Master  teaches  us  that  the 
commencement  is  always  to  be  made  with  the  obscure  and  the 
poor.  You  live  in  Belleville,  dear  friend,  that  suburb,  or  rather 
town  of  workshops  and  factories ;  you  cannot  but  have  witnessed 
there,  during  months  past,  untold  sufterings,  untold  misery. 
If,  then,  all  this  has  been  borne  with  such  patience — if  in  this 
native  country  of  the  Commu7ie  not  the  least  disorder  has  arisen, 
have  not  your  meetings,  so  tending  to  produce  what  is  good,  so 
favourite  among  these  poor  workmen,  done  their  part  1  Cer- 
tainly all  the  glory  belongs  to  God  alone,  and  not  to  the  un- 
worthy instruments  He  employs  ;  but  let  me  tell  you  how  I 
rejoice  to  see  the  Gospel  thus,  by  degrees,  taking  root  in  the 
country  of  Voltaire,  and  the  crowds  hungering  for  the  bread  of 
life  when  the  bread  that  perishes  is  ready  to  fail  them  ! 

"  And  now,  dear  brother,  it  is  not  you  but  all  the  friends  of 
your  work  who  have  need  to  consider  that  this  station  of  Eivoli, 
situated  in  the  most  central  and  business  quarter  of  Paris,  and 
opened  to  the  public  every  day  of  the  year,  involves  expenses 
of  rental,  of  management,  of  lighting,  &c.,  equal  to  those  of 
three  or  four  other  stations  taken  together.  If,  then,  the  ex- 
penses are  thus  increased,  ought  not  the  gifts  to  increase  in  the 
same  proportion  ]  England  will  not  weary  of  the  sacrifices  she 
has  made  in  order  to  spread  the  Gospel  in  France  in  the  very 
moment  when  these  sacrifices  begin  to  bear  fruit." 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  friendliness  of  the 
Paris  municipal  authorities.  The  Gospel  may  not 
yet  have  reached  their  own  hearts,  but  they  see  in 


Progressive  I^igathering.  1 73 

it  an  instrument  of  order  and  peace,  such  as  no 
priest  has  ever  wielded.  It  has  quieted  the  city  of 
revolutions,  and  made  the  worst  of  its  people  capable 
of  being  governed  without  bayonets  or  prisons.  These 
magistrates  see,  moreover,  in  the  men  who  are  thus 
gathering  the  communist  crowds,  men  who  can  be 
trusted ;  men  of  simple  purpose  and  unselfish  aims  ; 
no  disturbers  of  the  peace,  or  enemies  of  social  order  ; 
and  they  not  only  support  and  sympathise  with,  but 
are  ready  publicly  to  honour  these  promoters  of  the 
peace  of  Paris.  The  honour  conferred  by  men  in 
power  and  position  may  not  always  be  an  indication 
of  the  faithfulness  of  an  evangelist  or  a  pastor ;  still 
the  following  recognition  of  the  Mission  and  its  con- 
ductor is  well  worth  recording.  When,  in  1834, 
Dr.  Chalmers  was  elected  corresponding  member  of 
the  Royal  Institute  of  France,  the  men  of  the  In- 
stitute thought  merely  of  honouring  science  and 
genius.  But  the  tribute  to  Mr.  M'All  was  not  of 
this  nature,  and  its  value  consists  not  so  much  in 
the  distinction  bestowed  upon  a  toiJing  evangelist, 
as  in  the  testimony  thus  borne  to  the  influence  of 
his  work  : — 

"  The  authorities  of  Paris  have  continued  to  give  us  all  need- 
ful faciUties,  and  this  has  been  done  with  the  utmost  courtesy 
and  good-will.  And  in  May  last  we  were  gladdened  by  an 
unexpected  recognition  of  our  undertaking  on  the  part  of  a 


174  ^/^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

great  public  society,  which  includes  many  distinguished  repre- 
sentatives of  all  political  and  ecclesiastical  parties.  On  occasion 
of  the  anniversary  gathering  of  the  'Societe  Nationale  cV Encour- 
agement au  Bien/  held  in  the  Cirque  National,  a  silver  medal 
was  presented  to  us,  with  the  inscription  on  the  accompanying 
diplome,  'pour  devouement  a  Vhuma7iite.'  One  or  two  sentences 
translated  from  the  report,  read  before  the  vast  assembly  by 
Monsieur  Henri  Arnoul,  the  venerable  secretary,  and  widely 
circulated,  exhibit  the  estimate  of  such  an  enterprise  formed 
by  those  viewing  it  ah  extra.  '  Mr,  M'All  knew  that,  in  the 
population  of  Belleville,  there  exist  sufferings  of  all  kinds, — 
that  moral  degradation  has  its  abode  there  side  by  side  with 
mental  degradation  and  extreme  poverty.  Seconded  by  Mrs. 
M.  and  a  few  friends,  he  has  founded,  and  subsequently  multi- 
plied in  Paris,  evening  meetings,  the  object  of  which  is  to 
bring  light  to  the  mind,  and  to  calm  the  troubled  heart. 
Wherever  he  has  directed  his  steps,  Mr.  M.  has  been  cordially 
received.  His  words  of  sympathy  have  been  responded  to 
by  expressions  of  gratitude.  "  La  Societe  d' Encouragement  au 
Bien^'  joins  in  the  testimonies  of  affection  which  salute  the 
welcome  of  the  benevolent  foreigner,  and  offers  him  a  medal 
in  return  for  the  good  he  labours  to  effect.' " 

This  year  brought  with  it  a  new  feature  in  the 
work, — the  establishment  of  a  dcdly  evangelistic 
service  at  the  central  station  in  the  Rue  de  Rivoli. 
No  fewer  than  367  meetings  have  been  held  in  the 
room  there  during  the  year,  attended  in  all  by  up- 
wards of  70,000  persons.  This  station  is  in  the 
very  centre  of  gay  Paris,  and  is  one  of  great  im- 
portance. An  officer  of  the  adjoining  Hotel  de 
Yille,  a  devoted  Christian  man,  who  takes  a  great 


Progressive  Ingathering.  1 75 

interest  in  the  station,  said  to  Mr.  M'All,  ''When 
the  Hotel  de  Ville  was  burning,  I  prayed  that 
another  fire,  the  sacred  flame  of  the  Gospel,  might 
be  kindled  on  the  very  spot,  and  here  I  see  my  oft- 
renewed  prayer  answered."  He  said  this  after  a 
crowded  meeting,  composed,  as  the  week-day  even- 
ing attendance  is,  ahnost  entirely  of  men.  Night 
after  night  the  room  is  filled  with  the  representatives 
of  various  classes, — bourgeois,  tradesmen,  clerks,  and 
especially  ouvriers.  The  attention  is  very  striking, 
and  at  no  station  is  the  fondness  for  hymns  more 
marked.  Many  a  careless  passer-by  along  that  gay 
thoroughfare  has  been  arrested  by  these  sounds  of 
praise.  Dr.  Fisch  is  a  great  helper  here;  and  on 
the  Sabbath  afternoons  it  has  more  the  character  of 
a  settled  congregation  than  the  others.*'^" 

*  I  give  in  a  note  the  following  statement  from  the  report  of  1877, 
as  to  "  Material  Progress  :  " — 

"  Our  work  has  again  been  extended  in  accommodation,  and,  still 
more,  in  attendance.  Four  stations  have  been  enlarged,  and  three 
new  ones  founded,  giving  nearly  1000  additional  sittings.  The  aver- 
age weekly  attendance  at  the  meetings  for  adults  has  increased  by 
upwards  of  2500. 

"  Yet  at  no  period  of  the  year  have  our  finances  warranted  exten- 
sion unless  where  special  contributions  were  offered  for  some  definite 
purpose.  Thus,  by  the  liberality  of  Captain  Knox,  H.N.,  we  were 
enabled,  in  the  spring,  to  add  230  sittings  to  our  deeply-interesting 
station  of  Boulevard  Ornano,  he  having  devoted  the  sum  required 
in  memory  of  his  late  wife.  At  Batignolles,  we  have  been  helped 
by  a  kind  friend  in  London  towards  the  cost  of  a  larger  room,  which 
has  resulted  in  nearly  doubling  the  attendance.     At  La  Villette  and 


176  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

New  fields  are  entered  on ;  and  the  same  kind 
of  population  gathers  round  the  evangelists.  Each 
advance  made  is  a  new  insight  into  "  the  mysteries 
of  Paris ; "  and  no  part  of  that  city,  even  the  worst 
and  lowest,  seems  inaccessible.  No  one  says,  "  De- 
part out  of  our  coasts ; "  every  street  and  lane 
says,  "Welcome."  ''He  that  openeth  and  no  man 
shutteth "  is  here.  He  is  ''  found  of  them  who 
sought  Him  not."  Still,  wherever  the  evangelists 
go,  opposition,  if  it  shows  itself  for  a  moment, 
disappears.      The  police  protect  and  sympathise. 

"  At  Piiteanx,  a  populous  suburb  outside  the  boundaries  of 
Paris,  the  long-projected  station  was  opened  in  February.  When 
applying  to  the  Paris  authorities  for  the  requisite  authorisation, 
they  frankly  expressed  to  us  the  opinion  that,  in  consequence 
of  the  tumultuous  and  atheistic  characteristics  of  the  district, 
we  should  find  it  impossible  to  work  there,  and  should  only 
bring  disappointment  and  trouble  on  ourselves.  Nevertheless, 
the  permission  was  granted.  On  occasion  of  the  opening,  the 
room,  which  will  accommodate  150,  was  densely  crowded ;  the 
utmost  order  prevailed ;  and  at  the  close,  the  Mayor  of  Puteaux 
and  the  Commissary  of  Police,  who  were  both  present,  expressed 
their  warm  sympathy  and  readiness  to  protect  and  aid  us.  A 
month  later,  the  Commissary  sent  to  us  a  message  by  Monsieur 
Dumas,  Lutheran  pastor  of  Puteaux,  to  the  effect  that  he  '  had 

Bercy,  our  existing  places  were  let  to  other  tenants  on  long  leases. 
In  each  case  we  have  obtained  much  more  spacious  a,nd  eligible 
rooms.  For  the  former  enlargement,  we  have  had  the  generous  aid 
of  Monsieur  Fallot  and  his  congregation  of  the  Chapelle  du  Nord ; 
the  other  is  specially  cared  for  by  Mrs.  Barbour  and  friends  in  Edin- 
burgh." 


Progressive  Ingathering,  1 7  7 

reported  to  tlie  Prefecture  the  large  attendances  and  perfect 
order  of  the  meetings,  and  his  belief  that  great  good  would 
result  in  the  moral  amelioration  of  the  district.'  The  subsequent 
history  of  the  place  has  borne  out  this  happy  commencement. 
Mr.  Dumas  devotes  himself  to  the  work  with  exemplary  assi- 
duity, and  receives  aid  from  other  brethren  in  the  vicinity. 
More  than  this,  the  entire  cost  of  planting  and  sustaining  the 
station  has  been  defrayed  by  special  contributions  collected  by 
himself  and  Mr.  Fallot. 

"  Our  station  of  Boulogne-sur-Seine  was  opened  in  April  in 
continuation  of  the  devoted  labours  of  Madame  Dalencourt, 
and  in  the  same  locality.  She  herself  has  lent  her  valuable 
help  to  the  effort.  The  district  is  one  in  which  the  Gospel  is 
little  known,  and  the  people,  absorbed  in  their  temporal  affairs, 
are  difficult  to  reach.  Still,  we  desire  to  persevere  in  the 
undertaking,  believing  that  the  reaping  time  will  come. 

"An  interesting  sketch  of  this  and  other  departments  of  the 
work  in  which  Madame  Dalencourt  aids  us,  written  by  herself, 
is  appended  to  this  report.  The  French  Committee  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  who  take  so  deep  an  interest  in  Madame 
D.'s  labours,  have  allowed  us  the  use  of  their  furniture  for  the 
station,  and  otherwise  helped  us. 

"  The  twenty-second  station,  that  of  the  Rue  de  Meaux, 
La  Villette,  has  been  formed  by  separating  a  part  of  the  large 
new  room  in  the  Rue  d'Allemagne.  The  premises  having  a 
second  entrance  in  the  adjoining  street,  we  are  thus  enabled  to 
do  something  for  a  distinct  and  much-neglected  population. 
Our  esteemed  friends,  Signor  and  Mrs.  Peretto,  have  recently 
taken  charge  of  this  infant  effort." 

The  sympathy  of  French  Christians  came  out  in 
an  interesting  and  peculiar  way,  which  the  following 
extract  will  show  : — 

"  It  is  with  joy  that  we  pay  a  renewed  warm  tribute  to  the 

N 


1 78         The  White  Fields  of  Fra^ice. 

Frencli  Christians  of  Paris,  who,  during  the  year,  have  given 
new  proof  of  their  sympathy  by  coming  to  our  aid  financially. 
In  April  last,  so  soon  as  our  need  was  known,  they  sent,  with- 
out our  solicitation,  generous  help  towards  surmounting  the 
crisis.  And  this  followed  closely  upon  a  most  touching  mark 
of  affectionate  interest.  One  day  in  March,  we  received  a  visit 
from  Professor  and  Madame  St.  Hilaire,  when  they  handed  to 
us  an  elegantly  inlaid  box,  inscribed  on  the  outside,  *  Voitures,^ 
inside, — '  A  M.  et  Mme.  M'All,  temoignage  de  ^jrofonde  grati- 
tude des  amis  de  Paris.'  The  offerings  contained  in  and  accom- 
panying the  box  amounted  to  3930  francs  (^117),  which  we 
were  exhorted  to  expend  in  hiring  conveyances  in  order  to 
lessen  our  fatigue  when  journeying  to  our  distant  stations. 
Such  a  mark  of  delicate  kindness  on  the  part  of  numerous 
Parisian  neighbours  (pastors  and  others)  towards  lis  who  had, 
six  years  ago,  come  among  them  as  abnost  unknown  strangers, 
and,  not  less,  the  tender  affection  with  which  our  dear  friends 
accompanied  its  presentation,  left  an  impress  on  our  heart 
which  can  never  be  effaced." 

The  Bible  classes  are  vigorously  conducted,  and 
this  year  shows  no  diminution.  Six  are  now  held 
weekly,  with  an  average  attendance  of  nearly  300. 
These  are  for  both  old  and  young.  The  prayer 
meetings  still  continue,  with  the  young  men's 
Fraternal  Union  Prayer  Meeting.  The  sewing 
classes  for  poor  women  make  progress.  Various 
other  smaller  and  occasional  meetings  are  held ; 
among  which  is  M.  Theodore  Monod's  for  religious 
inquirers  at  the  Ornano  station. 

The  warm  hand- shakings,  noticed  in  the  reports, 
at  the  close  of  the  meetings,  put  one  in  mind  of 


Progressive  Ingathering.  1 79 

apostolic  times.  ''  Greet  one  another  with  a  holy 
kiss,"  ''  Brotherly  love  continues."  On  reopening 
the  Ornano  station  after  enlargement,  M.  T.  Monod 
wished  to  ascertain  how  far  the  audience  had  been 
steady  throughout.  He  asked  those  who  had  at- 
tended from  the  beginning  to  hold  up  hands ;  and 
quite  a  forest  of  hands  was  exhibited. 

The  incidents  of  the  year  are  still,  as  formerly, 
strikingly  illustrative  of  the  nature  of  the  work 
carried  on  at  the  meetings  and  Bible  classes,  and 
also  in  domiciliary  visits.  They  are  various,  though 
of  course  all  bearing  more  or  less  on  the  one  point 
of  spiritual  benefit  received.  Without  colouring  or 
exaggeration,  facts  are  set  down,  which  by  the  sim- 
plicity and  brevity  with  which  they  are  given,  attest 
their  truthfulness,  and  increase  our  confidence  in 
the  Mission.  Readers  will  not  have  to  complain  of 
€Qibellished  narratives  or  invented  scenes. 

"  I  am  always  happy,"  said  an  aged  hearer  at  one 
of  the  stations.  ''  God  cares  for  me  and  guides  me. 
I  hold  myself  ready  to  go  whenever  He  shall  call  me 
away."  He  had  been  noted  for  his  bright  counte- 
nance and  eager  attention. 

Such  entries  as  the  following  are  worth  record- 
ing : — "  A  young  man,  now  a  worker,  had  been  led 
to  Christ  at  La  Chapelle;"  "evidences  of  a  deepen- 
ing work  in  the  Belleville  Bible  class ;  "   "  several 


i8o         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

persons  who  had  attended  M.  T.  Monod's  special 
meetings  at  Ornano  are  connecting  themselves  now 
with  his  church ;  "  ''  news  of  six  or  seven  members 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  brought 
out  of  darkness  into  light ;  "  "a  heart-broken  father, 
who  has  lost  two  children,  has  found  rest  in  the 
infinite  love  of  God  ;  "  "  an  ouvrier  of  Grenelle,  to 
whom  the  meetings  had  been  blest,  has  died  in 
peace ;  "  "  Thank  you,  sir ;  this  is  better  than  the 
cabaret,"  said  an  ouvrier  at  the  Rue  de  Rivoli ; 
"the  whole  family  of  an  ouvrier  has  come  under 
the  power  of  the  Gospel  at  Rue  de  la  Condamine ;  " 
"  an  attender  at  Les  Ternes,  brought  out  of  the  dark- 
ness of  superstitious  formalism,  and  laid  upon  a 
sick-bed,  requested  to  have  her  Christian  friends 
gathered  round  her,  that  they  might  commemorate 
together  the  love  of  Christ :  and  asked  her  pastor  to 
say  to  the  company  in  her  name,  '  My  brethren  and 
sisters  in  Christ,  whether  rich  or  poor,  are  dearer  to 
me  than  my  relatives  who  are  strangers  to  Him.' " 
Mr.  Moillet  reports  the  great  interest  awakened  at 
the  Rue  Chariot  station  by  the  distribution  of  New 
Testaments  to  the  concierges  around,  and  also  the 
kind  Avay  in  which  domiciliary  visits  are  received  in 
that  district,  which  is  the  very  centre  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Hitchcock  reports  well  of  the  juvenile  work  at 
Les   Ternes,  and   that   135   girls  had  entered  the 


Progressive  Ijigathermg.  1 8 1 

school  last  winter,  instructed  by  twenty  ladies. 
Another  regular  attender  of  the  meetings  had  died 
lately  in  the  hospital,  having  her  Bible  always  at 
her  side.  The  hymn  which  she  had  specially 
learned  by  heart,  and  delighted  to  repeat,  was  that 
of  M.  T.  Monod,  as  embodying  her  hope  in  death, — 

"  Sur  Toi  je  me  repose, 
O  Jesu,  mon  Sauveur  ! 
Faiit-il  done  autre;  chose 
Pour  un  pauvre  peclieur  ] 
Conduit  par  ta  luniiere 
Garde  par  ton  amour, 
Vers  la  maison  du  Pere 
Marcliant  de  jour  en  jour." 

Three  extracts  from  the  report  (1877)  will  com- 
plete the  narrative  for  this  year  : — 

"  Very  interesting  reports  received  from  some  of  our  friends 
who  distribute  the  New  Testaments  to  the  concierges,  the  gift 
of  Madame  de  Briangon.  The  visitors  round  our  Menilmon- 
tant  station  found  not  only  wilHng  recipients,  but,  in  various 
houses,  the  people  said, '  We  only  wish  that  the  English  friends 
had  come  into  our  neighbourhood  before  the  terrible  struggle 
[the  Commune]  instead  of  after  it;  for  then  it  would  not  have 
taken  place.'  These  unaffected  utterances  seem  to  warrant  the 
belief  that  Christian  efforts  (those  of  others  as  well  as  our  own) 
in  these  outlying  districts  have  not  been  without  effect  in  calm- 
ing passion  and  promoting  social  order, 

"  Miss  — — ,  who  directs  our  Sunday  school  at  M ,  gave 

us  a  touching  account  of  a  boy  eleven  years  of  age.  Some 
weeks  previously,  he  began  to  attend  the  school,  and  afterwards 
the  public  service.     He  listened,  from  the  first,  with  rapt 


1 82  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

attention.  When  asked,  'Do  your  parents  send  you  liere?* 
'  No.'  '  Are  they  Christians  ] '  '  No,  they  do  not  attend  any 
church,  they  are  sceptics  ;  I  come  here  of  my  own  accord, 
because  I  want  to  learn  about  Jesus  Christ.'  Surely  a  Divine 
Teacher  had  silently  prepared  that  child's  heart  for  the  vital 
truth  ! 

"  One  of  our  workers,  having  paused  at  a  book-stall  on  the 
Quai,  felt  himself  touched  on  tlie  shoulder.  A  young  man, 
whom  he  did  not  know,  inquired,  '  Sir,  do  you  consider  that 
treatise  on  "  Prophecy  "  a  reliable  one  V  '  I  do  not  know  you,' 
remarked  our  friend.  '  But,  sir,  I  know  you,  and  am  grateful 
for  the  word  I  have  heard  you  speak  in  the  reunions.'  '  In 
wlisit  reunions ? '  'At  Belleville' (miles  away).  He  then  re- 
lated that,  one  night,  when  passing  the  gateway  of  our  mission- 
hall  in  the  Rue  de  Belleville,  the  little  j^aper  of  invitation  had 
been  put  into  his  father's  hand.  Arrived  at  his  home  outside 
the  fortifications,  he  read  it :  '  Des  amis  anglais  et  frangais 
desirent  vous  parler  de  Vamour  de  Jesus-Christ.^  '  The  love  of 
Jesus  Christ,'  said  he  to  his  wife  ; '  then  we  must  go  one  of  these 
evenings,  and  hear  what  this  is.'  '  Now,'  added  the  young 
man,  '  my  father  and  mother  and  all  the  family  attend  as  often 
as  possible  ;  and  more  than  this,  we  have  all  accepted  Christ 
as  our  Saviour.'  He  is  himself  a  member  of  the  '  Fraternal 
Union'  referred  to  above." 

"  Our  excellent  visitor,  Madame  ,  records  about  900 

domiciliary  visits  during  the  year.  Her  report  commences 
thus  : — '  I  am  greatly  encouraged  by  the  cordial  welcome  I 
receive,  and  the  great  desire  the  people  manifest  for  a  clearer 
knowledge  of  the  truth  respecting  the  life  to  come.  In  general, 
it  is  only  by  slow  degrees  that  they  come  to  comprehend  the 
truth,  but  when  they  have  once  laid  hold  upon  it  they  go  on- 
ward faithfully.  The  persons  imder  serious  impressions  to 
whom  I  referred  in  last  year's  report,  and  whom  I  continue  to 
visit,  are  persevering  in  the  right  way.  Many  of  them  make 
progress  which  it  is  delightful  to  observe,  and  exercise  a  salu- 


Progressive  Ingathering. 


tary  influence  around  them,  while  giving  evident  proofs  of 
their  evangelical  faith.  I  can  also  testify,  thank  God,  that 
during  this  year  I  have  witnessed  the  acceptance  of  salvation 
by  sinners.'  Our  friend  goes  on  to  specify  the  case  of  a  poor 
woman,  mother  of  a  family,  who,  after  having  lived  in  total 
indifference,  entered,  as  if  by  chance,  one  evening  the  reunion 
of  Boulevard  Ornano.  Her  attention  was  arrested,  and  she 
became  a  regular  attendant.  Our  kind  visitor  perceived  that 
she  became  anxious  and  distressed,  and,  after  repeated  inter- 
views, drew  from  her  the  avowal  that,  in  the  meetings,  the 
guilt  of  her  heart  had  been  so  discovered  to  her  that  it  seemed 
impossible  for  her  to  obtain  salvation.  At  length  she  was 
enabled  joyfully  to  declare,  'Jesus  has  triumiDhed  for  me  ;  I 
have  found  and  accepted  the  pardon  of  all  my  sins  through 
His  death  on  the  cross.'  '  Now,'  continues  our  visitor,  '  this 
mother,  who  had  so  neglected  her  children  that,  to  use  her  own 
words,  they  were  as  if  motherless,  unites  with  me  every  day  in 

praying  that  those  children  may  be  saved.'     '  Madame 

said  to  me  one  day,  after  hearing  an  address  on  the  new  birth, 
"  Formerly,  when  any  one  asked  me  what  age  I  had  arrived  at 
in  the  spiritual  life,  I  was  displeased,  for  I  was  forced  to 
acknowledge  that  I  was  not  born  as  yet :  but  now,  for  some 
months,  I  have  been  able  to  say  that  I  am  born  again,  but  I 
am  as  yet  a  mere  infant." '  Other  interesting  details  contained 
in  this  journal  must  be  omitted.  A  family  is  mentioned,  all 
the  members  of  which  attend  with  us.  After  enjoying  a  com- 
fortable position,  for  two  years  they  have  had  a  hard  struggle 
for  the  necessaries  of  life.  Here  is  their  testimony  :  '  What 
would  have  become  of  us  without  your  meetings'?'  They 
acknowledge  that '  the  promises  of  the  Gospel  alone  have  been 
their  support.'  Never  have  they  received  or  asked  any  pecuni- 
ary relief.  At  Batignolles,  a  widow  and  her  two  daughters 
close  their  shop  at  the  time  of  each  rmnion  in  order  to  be  pre- 
sent. The  mother  said,  'Before  coming  to  the  meeting,  we 
lived  without  religion,  but  now  we  cannot  dispense  with  it, — 


184  The  White  Fields  of  Finance. 

it  is,  as  it  were,  our  food.  To  come  to  tlie  meeting  is  to  us 
like  a  refreshing  repast.'  Another  attendant  of  the  same 
station,  visiting  in  a  remote  country  district,  has  collected  her 
relations  and  friends,  and  endeavoured,  in  her  simple  way,  to 
recount  to  them  what  she  had  heard  in  the  meetings." 

"  Knowing  the  interest  you  take  in  the  evangelisation  of  the 
working  population,  and  grateful  for  your  sympathy  evidenced 
in  granting  me  the  free  use  of  two  of  your  mission-rooms,  I 
am  happy  to  state  to  you  the  present  position  of  my  working 
meetings  for  women.  And,  first,  my  reunion  of  the  Gare 
d'lATy  was  commenced,  as  an  experiment,  in  October,  1876. 
You  know  how  grievously  the  inhabitants  of  that  district  are 
given  up  to  evil  habits,  which  produce  misery  and  lead  to 
mendicity.  Hence,  from  the  beginning,  I  felt  it  necessary  to 
insist  upon  the  fact  that  I  was  not  coming  to  establish  a 
Bureau  de  Bienfaisance,  but  simply  to  bring  the  Gospel  with 
its  consolation  to  the  suff'erers,  and  to  read  to  them  the  Divine 
Book  in  which  we  learn  to  love  duty,  labour,  order,  economy, 
&c.  For  some  months,  consequently,  we  rarely  gathered  more 
than  five  or  six  women  each  afternoon.  After  a  time,  especi- 
ally as  the  result  of  domiciliary  visits,  the  number  increased, 
and  now  we  rarely  have  fewer  than  thirty  persons. 

"  A  word  as  to  our  mode  of  procedure.  The  meeting  lasts 
from  one  to  four  o'clock.  During  this  time  all  the  women 
work,  either  bringing  their  own  work,  or  knitting,  for  which 
we  supply  the  wool.  After  singing,  we  sell  to  them,  at  a  slight 
loss,  the  materials  for  their  work,  also  some  vegetables,  &c. 
Singing,  reading,  reception  of  their  little  savings  into  a  Penny 
Bank,  and  the  lending  of  books  in  French  and  German,  follow  ; 
and  after  that,  a  portion  of  God's  Word  is  read  and  explained. 
Prayer  closes  the  meeting,  and  when  we  separate,  it  is  always 
with  the  delightful  sense  that  we  have  passed  three  hours  in 
the  Divine  presence. 

"  Our  visits  in  the  homes  of  the  sick  and  absent  bring  us  in 
contact  with  misery  of  all  kinds.     They  consume  much  time, 


Progressive  Ingathering.  185 

and,  although  I  am  aided  by  my  niece  and  an  English  friend, 
we  are  not  able  to  meet  the  urgent  needs,  and  I  should  regard 
it  as  a  great  blessing  if  the  Lord  were  to  put  it  in  the  heart  of 
some  Christian  ladies,  of  whatever  nation,  to  join  us.    Madame 

T ~,  who  has  asked  from  you  the  use  of  the  room  at  the 

Gare  d'lvry  for  an  Industrial  School  for  girls,  is  about  to  com- 
mence without  delay.  Thus  your  mission-room  is  thoroughly 
utilised,  and  this  district,  in  which  you  have  planted  the  stan- 
dard of  the  Gospel,  begins  to  be  well  worked,  the  children's 
services  of  Thursday  and  Sunday  being  also  intelligently  con- 
ducted and  very  prosperous. 

"At  Boulogne,  after  an  interval  of  some  months,  I  have 
yielded  to  the  earnest  desire  of  some  of  the  women  in  recom- 
mencing a  weekly  working  meeting,  not  on  the  former  footing, 
but  precisely  similar  to  that  of  the  Gare  d'lvry.  The  Lord  has 
directed  everything,  and  the  temporary  suspension  of  our  meet- 
ings seems  to  have  awakened  our  women  to  the  privilege  of 
meeting  as  a  family  to  study  the  Bible.  When  I  told  them 
that  I  returned,  not  on  the  former  footing,  but  almost  alone 
with  my  old  Bible,  they  replied, — '  It  is  better  to  see  you  two 
[t.e.,  you  and  your  Bible]  thus  together  than  not  to  see  you 
-tail.'" 

Mr.  Maitland  Heriot's  assistance  has  been  very 
valuable,  and  his  labours  most  successful.  As  his 
work  is  "  in  association  with  the  Paris  working- 
men's  mission"  of  Mr.  M'All,  I  should  have  liked 
to  give  a  full  narrative  of  his  labours.  But  I  find 
that  this  would  require  a  volume  by  itself;  and 
perhaps  some  one  may  be  found  to  write  the  story 
of  the  Paris  mission  to  the  young.  I  can  give  but 
one  or  two  paragraphs,  referring  my  readers  to  the 
reports.      In    187G,    no   less   than    2660    children 


1 86  The  IV kite  Fields  of  France. 

were  under  instruction.      In   1877,  these  had  in- 
creased to  3000  : — 

"  On  the  last  Saturday  of  the  year,  while  a  fzie,  was  heing 
given  by  Mr.  M'All  to  the  hahitucs  of  the  Belleville  station, 
we  gathered  the  younger  portion  of  the  assemblage,  consisting 
of  the  members  of  the  two  unions,  and  frequenters  of  the  young 
people's  meeting,  into  an  adjoining  room.  The  proceedings 
began  by  vigorous  eating  and  heavy  drinking  (the  beverage 
was  coffee).  After  they  had  consumed  as  much  as  was  good 
for  them,  we  felt  the  necessity  of  giving  affairs  a  practical  bent, 
and  by  turning  their  thoughts  upward  from  the  water  of  earthly 
merriment  towards  the  wine  of  heavenly  duty,  to  make  the 
evening  a  profitable,  as  well  as  a  more  joyful  one.  Accordingly, 
after  seeking  the  Divine  benediction,  and  singing  some  favourite 
hymne,  we  proposed  to  the  meeting,  constituted  suddenly  into 
a  conference,  this  important  question  :  '  What  can  ive,  the  young 
men  of  Paris,  do  to  promote  the  glory  of  Christ  ? '  Many 
friends  took  part  in  the  most  interesting  discussion  which 
followed,  several  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Union  gave  us 
the  benefit  of  their  experience,  and  one  or  two  Christian  ladies 
spoke  on  behalf  of  the  young  of  their  sex.  We  separated  late 
and  with  regret.  Never  in  this  country  have  we  seen  a  meet- 
ing more  thoroughly  animated  with  the  enthusiasm  of  the  true 
missionary  spirit.  Thus  the  old  year  terminated  most  hope- 
fully and  with  large  promise  for  the  future. 

"Much  that  is  of  interest  must  remain  unsaid  as  regards 
individual  cases  of  encouragement  and  blessing.  We  must, 
nevertheless,  for  the  two  letters  quoted  in  our  last  report  sub- 
stitute one  in  this.  It  was  received  on  New- Year's  Day,  when 
we  were  not  quite  well : — 

" '  Paris,  U  31  Decembre,  1877. 

" '  Une  jeune  chr^tienne,  et  une  jeune  convertie  de  1877, 
vous  prie  de  recevoir  ses  souhaits  les  plus  sinc^res  pour  I'an 
1878.    Dans  mes  pri^res  de  chaque  jour,  je  supplie  le  Seigneur 


Progressive  Ingathering.  187 

de  vous  garder  la  sante  et  de  nous  accorder  le  bonlieur  de  vous 
posseder  longtemps  au  milieu  de  nous,  afin  que  vous  ameniez 
encore  beaucoup  d'ames  a  notre  bien-aime  Sauveur  Jesus- 
Christ.  Croyez,  je  vous  prie,  cher  et  bon  Monsieur,  a  toute 
ma  reconnaissance,  et  recevez  les  amities  de  votre  petite  ser- 
vante  et  jeune  soeur  en  Jesus-Christ.  Marie  N.'  " 

This  work  amongst  the  young  was  seen  by  Mr. 
M'All,  from  the  first,  to  be  of  vast  importance. 
Mrs.  M'AIl  and  he  early  undertook  it ;  and  it  has 
rapidly  increased  upon  their  hands. 

That  this  evangelical  seed  has  been  so  widely 
sown  among  the  Parisian  children  is  matter  of  deep 
thankfulness, — perhaps  of  more  thankfulness  than 
many  would  concede.  Young  hearts,  they  say,  are 
easily  touched ;  and  juvenile  impressions  quickly 
fade.  True,  but  impressions  revive,  as  well  as  fade; 
and  young  hearts  are  easily  ve-touclied ;  all  the  more 
easily  from  being  touched  before.  This  we  give  as 
the  decided  conviction,  derived  from  the  experience 
of  a  long  ministry. 

Some,  leaning  to  the  opposite  extreme,  would 
have  us  believe  that  the  old  are  hopeless,  and  that 
it  is  to  the  young  that  we  must  direct  all  our 
efforts.  Not  so.  It  is  upon  the  grown-up  popula- 
tion of  Paris  that  the  wide  impression  has  been 
made  during  the  past  years  of  the  Mission ;  and  we 
must  say  that  our  ministerial  experience  is  out  and 
out   against   the   discouraging   averments   of   some 


1 88  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

religious  theorists,  that  the  old  are  unimpressible, 
and  that  a  man  after  the  age  of  thirty  or  forty 
''stands  little  chance"  of  being  converted.  In  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles  very  little  is  said  about  chil- 
dren, in  any  of  the  cities,  Jewish  or  Gentile,  to 
which  the  apostles  went.  The  conversions,  so  far 
as  the  record  goes,  were  all  among  the  old.  The 
truth  is,  that  we  have  really  nothing  to  do  with  the 
age  of  a  sinner  in  preaching  the  Gospel  to  him ; 
and  speculation  or  calculation  upon  this  point  has 
often  lost  sight  of  the  great  truth  that  the  same 
mighty  Spirit  is  needed  both  for  young  and  oldj 
and  that  it  is  by  the  same  Gospel  that  He  works 
in  all. 

It  is  no  small  matter  to  have  ilia  truth  deposited 
in  the  mind,  whether  of  old  or  young,  and  it  is  an 
unwise  thing  to  speak  disparagingly  of  "  head- 
knowledge."  If  the  belief  of  a  falsehood,  even  with 
"the  head,"  be  an  evil  thing, — an  evil  thing  in 
itself,  and  a  thing  dishonouring  to  God, — the  belief 
of  the  truth,  even  "  with  the  head,"  must  be  a  good 
thing,  both  in  itself  and  before  God.  The  minds 
of  Romanists,  moreover,  have  been  so  thoroughly 
steeped  in  "  head-lies,"  as  well  as  "  heart-lies,"  that 
even  that  which  is  called  the  "  intellectual  recep- 
tion "  of  the  truth  is  of  unspeakable  moment,  even 
were  it  for  nothing  else  than  the  expulsion  of  the 


Progi^essive  Ingathering.  189 

innumerable  lies  that  have  poisoned  the  intellect, 
both  of  man  and  child.  The  triumph  of  truth  over 
the  infitellect  is  of  itself  matter  of  great  rejoicing ; 
only  let  it  be  the  very  truth  of  God, — the  very 
Gospel  of  His  grace,  and  not  merely  something  like 
it,  which  deceives  and  mystifies,  by  mixing  up  faith 
and  works,  —  by  confounding  the  work  of  Christ 
upon  the  cross  with  the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
soul.  The  "foolishness  of  preaching  is  one  thing," 
and  foolish  preaching  is  quite  another.  That  which 
saves  is  the  finished  woek  alone,  without  addi- 
tion, either  great  or  small.  That  which  Christ  did 
1800  years  ago  is  of  itself  sufficient  to  recommend 
me  to  God,  and  as  soon  as  I  recognise  this,  I  am  in 
favour  with  God.  I  go  straight  to  God  to  be  saved  ; 
not  to  get  from  Him  materials  for  saving  myself.  I 
know  of  no  conditions,  save  that  of  taking  at  once, 
just  as  I  am,  from  the  hands  of  Christ,  the  proffered 
salvation  of  the  cross. 

What  the  sinner  needs  is  not  one  who  will  make 
up  for  his  deficiencies,  but'  who  will  undertake 
his  whole  resiJonsihilities ;  not  a  surety  who  will 
be  security  for  the  balance,  but  who  will  pay  the 
whole  debt.  The  revival  of  mediaeval  mysticism, 
which  works  up  a  fascinating  religiousness  by 
various  appliances,  and  mingles  together  the  "  in- 
fused" and  the  "imputed,"  to  obtain  a  sufficient 


1 90         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

righteousness  before  God,  will  be  of  no  avail  in  any 
aggressive  movement  against  scepticism  or  super- 
stition. Thomas  a  Kempis  would  be  a  poor  substi- 
tute for  Luther ;  and  sentimental  mysticism  would 
not  do  the  bold  work  of  the  Reformation  theology. 
The  keynote  of  preaching  must  still  be,  ''  Christ  for 
us ; "  and  the  hymns  which  are  to  carry  life  must 
ring  with, — 

"  Tons  les  travaiix  de  mes  mains 
Pour  te  plaire  seraient  vains 
Lors  meme  qu'en  ma  detresse 
Mes  pleurs  couleraient  sans  cesse, 
lis  ne  sauraient  me  laver 
Toi  seul  penx  et  venx  sanver  ! " 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     19 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

MISCELLANEOUS  :    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


(2i£. 


t  PROPOSE  to  wind  up  my  narrative  with  a 
somewhat  miscellaneous  chapter,  which  will 
glance  both  at  past  and  present ;  as  well  as  look 
a  little  into  the  future.  For  the  sake  of  order 
I  divide  it  into  several  sections.  The  way  in 
which  all  these  bear  upon  the  contents  of  this 
volume  will  be  very  obvious.  In  condensing  the 
report  of  the  last  year,  I  wished  to  connect  with  it 
some  things  of  interest  which  have  suggested  them- 
selves in  the  course  of  this  narrative,  but  which 
seemed  more  suitable  for  the  close. 

SECTION  L 
Contrasts. 

The  Reformation  history  of  France  is  too  little 
known.  Its  pages  are  full  of  interest  and  romance. 
That  land  has  yielded  more  martyrs  than  all 
Europe  together.      The   blood   of  the   slain   saints 


192  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

reddens  it  everywhere.  Prisons  and  cells,  castles 
and  cottages,  caves  and  mountains,  contain  histories 
of  bonds  and  banishment,  of  fire  and  sword,  of 
cruelty  and  darkness,  of  tears  and  broken  hearts,  such 
as  are  not  to  be  found  in  the  religious  annals  of  any 
other  country, — save,  perhaps,  of  Spain.  For  one 
martyr  in  England  and  Scotland  there  have  been 
five  hundred  in  France, 

Yet,  strange  to  say,  the  Gospel  has  overspread 
the  former,  while  it  has  almost  passed  away  from 
the  latter. 

The  blood  of  the  martyrs  has  not  always  been  the 
seed  of  the  Church;  and  the  "mowing  down,"  of  which 
the  old  Father  spoke,  has  not  always  been  followed 
by  the  thicker  growth.  A  more  sorrowful  example 
of  this  we  have  not  than  France ; — France,  which, 
three  hundred  years  ago,  seemed  destined  to  take 
her  place  side  by  side  with  Germany  and  Geneva 
in  raising  for  Europe  the  banner  of  the  cross  :  nay, 
which  promised  then  to  be  the  leader  and  teacher 
of  the  nations. 

When,  in  the  autumn  of  1527,  Calvin  went  to 
Orleans  to  study  jurisprudence,  under  Pierre  de 
I'Etoile,  it  might  have  seemed  as  if  God  were  pre- 
paring a  teacher  for  France,  not  for  Geneva.  And 
no  doubt  the  seed  he  sowed  in  his  native  land,  and 
the  harvest  he  reaped  there,  within  a  quarter  of  a 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.      1 93 

century,  looked  as  if  the  Reformation  were  about  to 
take  possession  of  the  whole  nation.  But,  ere  the 
close  of  the  century,  the  sword  and  fire  of  Rome 
had  swept  over  its  cities  and  villages,  slaying  or 
scattering  its  holiest  and  wisest  and  noblest ;  indi- 
cating too  plainly  that  not  to  France  was  to  be  given 
the  honour  of  any  witness-bearing,  save  that  of 
martyrdom. 

When  Gerard  Roussel,  chaplain  to  the  Queen  of 
Navarre,  about  the  year  1530,  preached  the  Gospel 
in  Paris,  it  looked  as  if,  from  within  the  Church  of 
Rome,  a  voice  was  to  be  heard,  whose  influence 
would  shake  the  very  citadel.  But  that  voice  died 
away.  Roussel  would  not  quit  the  Church,  and  his 
€arly  testimony  produced  no  results. 

So  one  witness  after  another  was  silenced  or 
removed ;  and  though  their  testimonies  never 
wholly  died  out,  yet  it  soon  became  evident  that 
France  was  not  to  take  that  lead  in  Reformation,  of 
which  it  had  given  early  and  noble  promise. 

It  is  interesting  to  mark  the  way  in  which 
Wycliffe,  about  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
sowed  the  seed,  broadcast,  over  England.  That  bold 
Reformer  sent  out  lay  preachers  in  all  directions, 
by  which  procedure,  while  he  scattered  the  truth, 
he  created  also  a  lay  element,  which  has  done  great 
things  in  England  ever  since.  The  itinerant  preachers, 

o 


194  ^^^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

staff  in  hand,  without  any  authority  beyond  the 
truth  of  their  message,  went  over  the  provinces, 
preaching  in  churches  when  they  could  get  them  ; 
when  denied  these,  in  streets  and  market-places,  in 
the  fields  and  roads.  Very  great  was  their  influ- 
ence, and  very  extensive  their  success,  especially  as 
the  priesthood  did  not  take  alarm  immediately ;  till 
in  the  next  generation  rays  of  Bible-light  had  reached 
almost  every  part  of  the  kingdom.  Wycliffe's 
preachers  were  sometimes  ignorant  enough,  but 
they  were  the  pioneers  of  a  greater  movement  than 
they  could  forecast.  This  pre-reformation  agency 
did  its  work  for  a  time  :  and  though  soon  checked, 
yet  no  violent  measures  were  resorted  to,  or,  at 
least,  carried  out.  There  were  no  martyrdoms. 
The  sword  had  not  yet  been  drawn,  nor  the  fire 
kindled.      Even  Wycliffe  died  in  peace. 

The  contrast  between  England  and  France  is  to 
be  noted.  Every  reformer  was  made  to  suffer  at 
the  hands  of  Kome.  Persecution  in  its  worst  forms 
was  familiar  to  Europe  from  the  earliest  days  of  the 
sixteenth  century. 

The  publication,  a  few  years  ago,  of  a  vast  number 
of  hitherto  inedited  documents,'""  relating  to  French 

*  I  refer  to  the  ''Bulletin  de  la  Soci^te  de  I'Histoire  de  Protest- 
antisme  Frangais  :  Documents  historiques  inddits  et  originaux  ;  16% 
17%  18®  Sifecles."     Paris  :  various  years. 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and Presejit.      195 

Protestantism,  has  fully  shown  this,  at  least  up  to 
a  certain  date.  These  volumes  are  of  great  price, 
consisting  of  original  letters,  decrees,  treatises,  hymns, 
narratives,  lists  of  names, — all  relating  to  the  Pro- 
testant history  of  France.  They  are  like  the  volumes 
of  our  Maitland  Club,  or  Wodrow  Society, — but  per- 
haps more  fragmentary  and  miscellaneous.  The 
martyr-lists  are  especially  valuable,  though  contain- 
ing little  more  than  names  and  places  and  profes- 
sions ;  not  like  our  Scots  Worthies,  with  narrative 
or  anecdote  affixed,  but  simple  designations  of  the 
sufferers,  like  monumental  stones.  The  papers 
extend  over  more  than  two  centuries. 

As  we  read  these  old  documents  and  registers  of 
names,  we  are  impressed  with  the  fact  that  the 
Gospel  must  have  covered  the  whole  land  very 
widely  indeed.  It  has  been  said  of  England,  in  the 
age  after  Wycliffe,  that  every  third  man  in  the 
kingdom  was  a  Lollard.  Of  Bohemia,  it  is  still  more 
explicitly  affirmed,  that  at  the  time  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, nine- tenths  of  the  people  were  anti-Papal.  I 
do  not  know  that  I  should  be  much  beyond  the 
mark  if  I  were  saying  of  the  France  of  ^that  period, 
that  half  of  her  people  had  opened  their  ears  to  the 
Gospel.  Certainly  throughout  all  its  provinces  the 
truth  of  God  had  gone  forth  to  a  wondrous  extent. 
And  the  question  comes  up,  How  did  it  enter  ? 


196  The  White  Fields  of  Fj^ance. 

We  have  no  full  record  which  can  enable  us  to 
answer  this  question  in  detail.  But,  in  these  old 
letters  and  contemporaneous  histories,  we  get  some 
glimpses  as  to  the  manner  in  which  the  light 
broke  in. 

The  Spirit  of  God  had  begun  to  work  every- 
where at  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century ; — 
and  always  in  connection  with  a  revived  Bible. 
Quiet  spirits  in  many  cities,  who  had  long,  in  secret, 
studied  the  Word,  began  to  be  bold  and  speak  out. 
The  sparks  went  over  the  land.  Other  lands  helped  ; 
or  rather  the  nations  helped  each  other ;  Germany, 
France,  Switzerland,  Italy.  The  Romish  Church  took 
alarm ;  persecution  tried  to  quench  the  light,  but  it 
spread  more  and  more.  Take  the  following  sentence 
from  a  manuscript  history  of  d'Aosta,  in  the  Turin 
Library:  "Dans  les  annees  1535  et  36  jusqu'en 
1542,  Luther  et  Calvin,  ces  mvposUurs  ahomenahles, 
profitant  du  trouble  des  guerres  d'entre  Charles  V. 
et  Francis  I®^  faisaient  repandre  leurs  erreurs  dans 
ce  duche."  ^'" 

A  few  zealous  men,  raised  up  in  the  land  itself, 
or  coming  from  other  lands,  preached  the  Gospel, 
and  the  Word  "  grew  mightily  and  prevailed." 
Under  the  most  withering  influences  of  Popish 
cruelty,  the  Gospel  proved  itself  the  power  of  God ; 

*  "  Bulletin,"  vol.  ix.,  p.  163. 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.      197 

and  France  had  almost  become  Protestant.  Not 
the  cities  only,  but  the  villages,  had  received  the 
truth.  How,  by  the  persecution  of  two  centuries, 
the  truth  was  expelled,  and  infidelity  reigned,  I 
need  not  here  inquire.  It  was  the  entrance  of  the 
light  that  I  wished  to  notice. 

In  very  different  circumstances,  and  by  very 
different  agencies,  is  the  light  now  introduced.  By 
no  fiery  or  bloody  persecution  is  the  progress  of  the 
Gospel  now  stayed.  Is  it  to  spread  as  extensively 
and  as  rapidly  as  it  did  three  centuries  ago  ? 

The  Seventh  Annual  Report  of  the  Mission  to  the 
Working-men  of  Paris  helps  us  a  little  to  answer 
this  question.  In  it  we  see  not  only  the  consolida- 
tion, but  the  advancement  of  the  work.  We  see 
also  not  only  the  many  quarters  into  which  it  is 
penetrating,  but  the  many  classes  of  which  it  is 
laying  hold. 

Never  has  it  been  so  in  France  before.  There 
have  been  occasions  during  the  last  fifty  years  in 
which  some  glimpses  of  liberty  for  the  preaching  of 
evangelical  truth  appeared.  But  these  were  on  a 
very  small  scale.  A  little  liberty  under  Louis 
Philippe ;  a  little  more  under  Napoleon ;  but  only 
since  the  last  war  has  the  liberty  been  complete, 
and  fully  available  for  the  work  of  evangelisation. 

The  contrast  between  Beformation  days  and  the 


198  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

jDresent  is  as  striking  as  it  is  instructive.  Royal  and 
priestly  power  united  once  to  stamp  out  Protestant- 
ism, and  to  quench  it  in  blood.  The  following  letter, 
written  by  a  young  Swiss  Romanist,  residing  in  Paris 
at  the  College  of  Clermont,  in  1572,  will  best  illus- 
trate the  contrast  to  which  we  refer.  His  name  was 
Joachim  Opser,  from  the  Canton  of  St.  Gall.  Like 
the  Papists  of  his  day,  with  the  Pope  at  their  head, 
he  exulted  over  the  St.  Bartholomew  Massacre.  His 
letters  are  the  echoes  of  the  unbounded  jubilation 
which  rung  through  the  College  of  Clermont  and 
through  all  Paris,  when,  on  the  24  th  of  August, 
1572,  the  Popish  assassins  made  the  city  flow  with 
Protestant  blood.  The  letter  is  addressed  to  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Gall,  and  was  sent  by  the  hand  of 
Studer  Von  Winkelbach,  who  was  deputed  by 
Charles  IX.  to  justify  the  deed  of  blood  to  the 
Swiss  Cantons  : — 

"  I  was  never  in  greater  haste  to  write  to  you,  at  least  I  have 
never  done  so  with  greater  pleasure.  France  is  doing  well,  and 
we  are  as  well  as  possible,  thanks  to  the  Most  High  !  Although 
I  have  to  write  to  you  at  length  of  our  private  affairs,  I  must 
first  tell  you  briefl}''  of  the  joy  of  the  Parisians  ;  the  bearer  of 
this  letter  will  give  you  full  and  authentic  details. 

"  On  the  18th  August  was  the  marriage  of  the  King  of  Na- 
varre with  the  Princess  Margaret,  sister  of  the  King ;  but  oh  ! 
joy  of  the  Christian  people,  the  24th  August  has  put  an  end 
to  the  transports  of  joy  which  this  event  occasioned  to  the 
heretics.     For  the  Admiral  (Coligny)  La  Rochefoucauld,  with 


Miscellaneous :  Past  aiid  Present.      1 99 

the  most  eminent  men  of  the  party,  have  been  miserably  mas- 
sacred by  order  of  the  King.  Their  bodies  are  even  now  lying 
on  the  public  squares,  exposed  to  the  view  of  passers-by ;  but 
I  leave  to  Captain  Studer  to  relate  all  these  things  by  word  of 
mouth." 

The  bearer  of  the  letter  having   been  delayed, 
Joachim  writes  again  on  the  26th  August: — 

"  I  will  now  transmit  to  you  some  details  which  will  cause 
you  real  pleasure ;  for  I  do  not  think  I  shall  weary  you  with 
writing  more  particularly  of  an  event  as  unexpected  as  it  is 
useful  to  our  cause,  and  which  not  only  fills  the  whole  Christ- 
ian world  with  admiration,  but  also  lifts  them  to  the  height  of 
rejoicing. 

The  Admiral  perished  miserably  on  the  24th,  with  all  the 
heretic  French  nobility  (without  exaggeration).  Immense  car- 
nage I  I  shuddered  to  see  the  river  full  of  corpses,  naked  and 
horribly  abused.  Hitherto  the  King  has  only  pardoned  the 
King  of  Navarre,  who  to-day  went  to  mass  with  King  Charles, 
so  that  great  hopes  are  entertained  of  him.  The  sons  of  Cond6 
are  in  prison  by  the  King's  orders,  but  are  in  great  danger, 
for  the  King  will  very  likely  visit  these  obstinate  champions 
-of  heresj^  with  exemplary  punishment.  Every  one  agrees  in 
praising  the  prudence  and  magnanimity  of  the  King,  who,  after 
having,  so  to  speak,  by  his  goodness  and  indulgence,  fattened 
them  as  beasts,  has  had  them  suddenly  slain  by  his  soldiers. 
All  the  heretic  booksellers  that  could  be  found  were  massacred 
and  thrown  naked  into  the  river.  Raums,  who  had  leapt  from 
his  bedchamber,  is  stretched  without  clothing  on  the  river 
brink,  pierced  by  innumerable  dagger- wounds.  There  are  none, 
not  even  women,  who  are  not  killed  or  wounded. 

"  As  to  the  murder  of  the  Admiral.  When  the  Swiss,  under 
the  orders  of  the  Duke  of  Anjou,  had  broken  open  the  doors, 
Conrad,  followed   by  Leonhard   Griinenfelder  of  Claris  and 


200  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

Martin  Koch,  reached  the  Admiral's  room,  which  was  on  the 
third  storey  of  the  honse,  they  first  killed  his  servant.  The 
Admiral  was  in  his  dressing-gown,  and  at  first  no  one  would 
lay  hands  on  him  ;  but  Martin  Koch,  bolder  than  the  others, 
struck  the  wretch  with  his  axe,  Conrad  gave  him  the  third 
blow,  and  at  the  seventh  blow  he  fell  dead  against  the  chimney 
of  his  room.  By  order  of  the  Duke  de  Guise,  his  body  was 
thrown  out  of  the  window,  and,  after  putting  a  cord  round  his 
neck  as  a  malefactor,  it  was  exposed  as  a  s]3ectacle  to  all  the 
people  while  being  dragged  to  the  Seine.  Such  was  the 
end  of  this  pernicious  man,  who,  not  only  in  his  life  brought 
many  to  the  verge  of  destruction,  but  in  his  death  drew  a  host 
of  noble  heretics  with  him  to  hell." 

Mr.  M'All's  twenty-three  stations, — the  8000  old 
and  3000  young  in  Paris  under  Protestant  instruc- 
tion,— are  the  exhibitions  of  a  wondrous  change. 
Disgusted  with  Popery,  wearied  with  infidehty,  France 
is  seeking  rest  in  the  simple  Gospel  of  Christ,  ask- 
ing her  way  from  the  crucifix  to  the  cross,  from  the 
mass-book  to  the  Bible,  and  wondering  if  the  liberty 
of  Christ  be  not  better  than  the  bondage  of  the 
Pope,  if  the  G antiques  popidaires  be  not  more 
intelligible,  at  least  to  the  ouvrier,  than  the  Latin 
Hymni  Ecdesice  of  the  Parisian  Breviary. 

SECTION  II. 
The  Salle  Evang^lique. 

This  hall  is  a  neat  and  substantial  structure  of 
wood,  capable  of  seating  600  persons.    It  was  erected 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     201 


at  the  conjunct  expense  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance 
and  the  Paris  Mission,  costing  upwards  of  £1200. 
It  is  now  the  property  of  the  latter,  according  to 
agreement,  and  will  be  removed  to  some  place  where 
it  may  better  serve  the  purpose  of  a  mission-station. 
There  is,  however,  great  difficulty  in  obtaining  a 
site  for  it,  as  the  price  of  ground  in  Paris  is  so  very 
high. 

Even  were  it  to  be  taken  to  pieces  to-morrow,  it 
has  done  noble  missionary  work  in  many  ways, 
and  has  been  a  wonderful  centre  for  numerous 
agencies  of  various  kinds.  Its  six  months'  story  is 
quite  a  peculiar  one ;  and  many  eyes,  from  many 
regions  of  the  earth,  are  looking  back  upon  it  with 
strange  interest,  as  the  birthplace  of  new  thoughts 
and  longings,  the  starting-point  of  a  new  course  in 
their  eternal  history. 

Our  sketch  of  this,  however,  must  be  brief. 
Some  graphic  pen  would  be  needed  to  do  justice  to 
its  strange  scenes,  and  to  describe  the  crowds,  from 
almost  every  nation  under  heaven,  that  came  to 
gaze,  or  to  hear,  or  to  buy,  or  to  receive  the  gifts 
handed  out  to  them,  in  the  shape  of  books  and  Tes- 
taments and  tracts.  During  the  last  few  weeks  of 
the  Exhibition,  the  whole  peasantry  of  France 
flocked  to  the  spectacle,  invited  by  Government, 
and  by  means  of  cheap  fares,  enabled  to  come  from 


202  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

the  most  distant  parts.  The}^  were  not  sent  empty 
home,  hut  received  Scripture  Portions  and  tracts ; 
so  that  into  all  the  pai'ishes  and  villages  of  France 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  was  sent.  Never  had  there 
been  such  a  singular  opportunity  of  sowing  the 
seed.  No  agencies  could  have  been  set  on  foot  by 
any  mission,  sufficient  for  such  an  immense  work. 
Time,  men,  money,  would  have  been  required ;  and, 
after  all,  the  work  could  not  have  been  completely 
accomplished,  nor  the  remote  districts  thoroughly 
penetrated.  Now,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks, 
without  any  new  agency  or  any  cost,  the  Word  is 
sent  out  everywhere.  God  gathers  the  peasantry 
of  France  together,  and  the  Divine  message  is  put 
into  their  hands  to  carry  back  to  their  relations 
and  children.  Within  one  month  the  whole  land  is 
reached,  and  the  truth  deposited  in  every  parish. 

"  Two  Freiicli  evangelistic  meetings  were  held  daily  in  the 
<SaZZe,  without  intermission,  during  the  whole  period  of  the 
Exposition.  On  some  days  this  number  was  increased  to  three 
and  even  four.  It  was  at  the  special  request  of  the  Paris 
Committee  of  the  Alliance  that  we  undertook  the  organisation 
and  management  of  these  services.  The  numbers  in  attendance 
and  the  interest  manifested  increased  to  the  close.  On  some 
hot  summer  afternoons  the  hearers  were  comparatively  few ; 
but  on  Sundays,  and  on  all  favourable  days,  it  was  delightful 
to  see  the  passers-by  crowding  to  the  spot,  and  to  observe  the 
eagerness  with  which  many  listened,  as  to  a  new  and  surprising 
discovery.     In  all,  during  the  Exposition,  433  French  reunions 


Miscellaneous :  Pas  I  and  Present.      203 

iVajppel  were  held,  attended  by  98,328  persons,  which  number 
has  subsequently  been  increased  to  100,000.  In  addition,  a  series 
of  meetings  was  held  in  the  German  language,  conducted  by 
M.  le  Pasteur  Frisius  ;  and  some  efforts  were  made  to  reach 
the  Spanish  and  Italian  visitors.  It  is  worthy  of  record,  as 
evidencing  the  cordial  sympathy  of  our  French  friends,  that 
36  pasteurs  of  Paris,  and  20  laymen  (including  evangelists, 
students,  &c.),  besides  upwards  of  30  others,  from  various 
parts  of  France  and  elsewhere,  took  part  in  these  services. 
Here,  as  everywhere  else,  the  hymns,  including  those  kindly 
prepared  by  Miss  Blundell  and  by  the  Religious  Tract  Society^ 
evidently  possessed  a  great  charm.  To  that  Society,  as  also  to 
the  Committees  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  and 
of  the  Bible  stand,  we  were  indebted  for  the  tracts  and 
Scripture  Portions  distributed  at  the  close  of  each  meeting. 
The  attacks  of  certain  Ultramontane  journals  on  the  entire 
series  of  Christian  activities  thus  pursued  might  be  regarded 
as  an  undesigned  tribute  to  the  united  testimony  for  the 
glorious  truth  of  the  Gospel,  which,  in  harmony,  we  were 
enabled  to  bear. 

"  Besides  the  evangelistic  reunions,  several  series  of  interest- 
ing Conferences  were  held  in  the  Salle,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Evangelical  Alliance.  At  the  meeting  for  thanksgiving  held 
when  the  Exposition  was  about  to  close,  among  other  gratifying 
testimonies  was  that  of  M.  Abric,  Protestant  pastor  of  Passy 
(in  which  the  Salle  is  situated),  who  described  the  effect 
produced  in  his  own  congregation,  both  in  bringing  new 
attendants  and  in  the  spiritual  quickening  of  others  who  had 
previously  been  '■  hearers  only.' 

"  Adding  the  similar  series  of  reunions  d'appel  conducted  by 
our  esteemed  friend  Pastor  Armand-Delille  and  his  assistants 
at  the  Forte  Rapp),  we  feel  that  the  good  seed  was  widely  sown 
at  the  gates  of  the  '  World's  Fair,'  and  according  to  the  Divine 
promise,  the  harvest  will  certainly  follow. 

"  But  while  such  a  work  must,  to  a  great  extent,  be  that  of 


204  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

'casting  bread  upon  tlie  waters,'  we  rejoice  to  be  able  to  add 
the  record  of  various  instances  of  decided  turning  to  the  Lord 
through  these  services  in  our  Salle.  One  case  is  that  of  a  Govern- 
ment schoolmaster  from  the  Haute  Savoie,  who,  after  speaking, 
with  tears,  to  one  of  our  young  evangelists  of  his  wish  to  under- 
stand and  take  to  heart  the  new  discovery  of  truth,  wrote  to  us 
from  his  distant  home,  stating  that  the  addresses  and  the  little 
books  given  to  him  had  '  brought  a  flood  of  light  into  his 
mind,'  and  desiring  to  make  a  deeper  acquaintance  with  the 
Gospel.  Another  instance  is  that  of  a  lady,  teacher  of  a  school, 
a  Roman  Catholic,  who,  amazed  and  overjoyed  in  view  of  the 
doctrine  of  salvation  by  grace,  has  braved  every  sacrifice,  and 
connected  herself  with  one  of  the  evangelical  churches. 

"  Some  of  the  incidents  were  very  characteristic  and  affect- 
ing. A  venerable  gentleman,  after  attending  for  the  third  or 
fourth  time,  said  to  us,  with  great  feeling,  '  Alas  !  I  am  nothing 
better  than  an  old  disciple  of  Plato  ;  but  I  see  that  there  is  much 
truth  in  what  is  spoken  here.  And,  above  all,  the  prayer  at 
the  close  was  touching,  was  it  not  ? '  Another  intelligent  man, 
after  hearing  the  Lord's  Prayer,  desired  to  '  buy  the  book  in 
which  these  wonderful  expressions  were  found.' " 

Bibles  and  Gospels  in  tiventy-two  languages  were 
sold  or  given  away.  Of  Gospels  and  Epistles,  nearly 
a  million  and  a-half  were  distributed  in  French. 
The  demand  for  other  languages  was,  of  course, 
much  smaller.  But  it  is  interesting  to  note  the 
different  nations  which  thus  applied  for  the  Word. 
Not  only  do  we  find  German,  Italian,  Spanish, 
Russian,  and  Dutch  applicants,  but  Jewish,  Greek, 
Arabian,  Bohemian,  and  Basque.  And  if  the  larger 
figures  attached  to  some  of  the  nations  strike  us. 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.      205 

we  linger  over  the  smaller  ones,  wondering  what 
may  be  the  result.  Japan  asks  only  for  81  ; 
Turkey  for  20 ;  Persia  for  12  ;  but  these  are  going 
into  regions  where  no  Bible,  perhaps,  has  hitherto 
penetrated ;  and  where,  but  for  this  great  Exhibi- 
tion, it  might  never  have  come. 

In  a  private  letter,  Mr.  Dodds  thus  writes  of  the 
Balle : — 

"  In  regard  to  the  Salle  Evang^Hque, — now  closed  with  the 
great  Exhibition, — though,  from  the  passing  character  of  the 
audience,  much  of  the  fruits  of  tlie  meetings  will  never  be 
known  here,  we  have  ample  proofs  of  real  good  having  been 
done.  On  the  closing  day  a  gentleman  came  to  Mr.  M'AU, 
expressing  regret  that  this  was  the  last  Sunday,  and  adding, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  that  the  words  he  had  heard  there  had 

brought  new  light  to  his  soul.    Madame ,  formerly  a  strict 

Eomanist,  is  an  outstanding  witness  to  blessing  received  in  the 
^alU.  She  has  made  great  sacrifices,  and  her  former  friends 
stand  aloof  from  her  since  she  joined  a  Protestant  church,  but 

she  is  enabled  to  hope  in  God.     M spoke  at  one  of  our 

meetings  with  great  Hfe, — like  one  who  had  himself  been 
greatly  refreshed,  and  had  received  a  fresh  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  His  words  greatly  gladdened  our  hearts,  and  caused  a 
song  of  thanksgiving  to  spring  up.  •  He  told  us  of  the  unusual 
interest  in  God's  Word  that  he  had  found  in  visiting  among 
the  people, — that  persons  never  known  to  read  it  before,  were 
now  found  doing  so ;  fathers  surrounded  by  their  children,  and 
whole  families  together,  reading  the  Testament,  or  Scripture 
Portions,  received  at  the  Kiosque.  He  had  also  met  groups 
of  men  in  the  park,  seated  on  the  forms,  reading  the  Scriptures, 
and  was  sometimes  stopped  by  them,  and  requested  to  explain 
what  they  were  reading.    Above  all,  he  rejoiced  over  indiAddual 


2o6  The  White  Fields  of  France. 


conversions,  and,  in  some  cases,  over  whole  families  changed, 
and  openly  confessing  Christ." 

The  Pentecostal  gift  of  tongues  has  not  been 
vouchsafed  to  the  Church  in  these  last  days.  The 
scene,  so  briefly  but  graphically  sketched  in  the 
second  chapter  of  the  Acts,  has  not  been  witnessed 
amongst  us.  But  something  very  like  it  has.  God 
has  not  repeated  Himself  in  the  if)iode  of  sending 
out  His  messengers.  He  has  taken  another  way  ;  a 
way  which,  so  far  as  dispersion  of  the  truth  is  con- 
cerned, has  been  no  less  effective  and  wonderful. 
He  has  not  used  the  living  voice  to  speak  in  the 
various  languages  of  earth;  but  He  has  used  the 
printing-press  of  the  nineteenth  century  to  convey 
His  message  to  twice  as  many  nations  as  were 
spoken  to  by  apostles.  The  wonder  expressed  by 
many  visitors  of  the  Kiosque,  on  receiving  Bibles  or 
Gospels  in  their  own  tongue  reminds  us  of  the  same 
kind  of  wonder  uttered  in  Jerusalem  1800  years 
ago, — "  How  hear  we  every  man  in  our  own  tongue 
wherein  we  were  born  ?  .  .  .  And  they  were  all 
amazed,  and  were  in  doubt  [in  bewilderment],  say- 
ing one  to  another,  What  meaneth  this  ? " 

The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Frank  M'Kinnon 
will  illustrate  the  above  remarks  : — 

"  All  who  have  taken  part  in  the  grand  distribution  of  God's 
Word  at  the  Bible  Kiosque  must  have  felt  it  to  have  been  a 


Miscellaneoiis :  Past  and  Present.      207 

blessed  privilege.  Who  could  have  remained  cold  or  unmoved 
while  the  teeming  multitude,  like  a  stream,  poured  from  the 
principal  entrance  and  passed  by  the  Kiosque  to  receive  the 
unspeakable  gift  of  glad  tidings  '  without  money  and  without 
price '  ?  At  times  it  was  most  difficult  to  convince  the  passers- 
by  that  the  distribution  was  gratuitous.  '  Passez  par  ici  ;  e'est 
gratuit ;  il  n'y  a  rien  a  payer,'  was  barely  sufficient ;  and  many 
an  unbelieving  one  would  pass  by,  till  the  example  and  faith 
of  the  others  caused  him  also  to  draw  near  and  put  out  his 
hand  for  a  book.  Many  a  foreigner  would  stand  and  gaze  at 
the  pretty  building,  unable  to  understand  either  what  was 
being  said  or  done.  With  curious  glance  he  would  scan  the 
invitations,  written  in  various  languages,  till  his  eye  would 
fall  on  his  own  ;  and  then,  with  marked  pleasure,  he  would 
approach  and  ask  for  '  a  Russian,'  or  '  an  Italian,'  or  '  a  Span- 
ish,' or  '  a  Chinese,'  as  the  case  might  be. 

"  It  was  most  interesting  to  observe  the  mode  in  which  the 
gift  was  received.  Almost  invariably  it  was  accepted  with  a 
hearty  '  Merci  beaucoup  ! ' 

"Now  and  then  an  infidel  or  sceptic  would  lay  it  down 
with  a  look  of  sarcasm  or  contempt,  as  if  they,  and  they  alone, 
knew  the  depths  of  wisdom. 

"Some  would  tear  it  in  pieces  to  express  the  enmity  of 
their  heart. 

"  Others,  moved  by  fear,  would  quickly  yet  respectfully 
return  it. 

"  Sometimes  a  child  would  receive  a  sound  blow  from  his 
mother  for  daring  to  stretch  out  his  hand  for  an  'heretical 
book.' 

"  The  questions,  and  utterances  too,  were  both  interesting 
and  amusing  : — 

" '  What  is  it  r 

" '  How  much  ] ' 

" '  In  French  ? ' 

"  *  A  present ! ' 


2o8  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  '  La  propagande  protestante  ! ' 

"'La  Bible!' 

" '  Good  books  ! ' 

'"Bad  books!' 

" '  The  English  religion  ! ' 

" '  Nothing  to  pay  1    That's  good.' 

" '  Here  there  is  nothing  to  pay ;  with  them  it  is  quite  the 
contrary :  pay,  pay,  pay,  nothing  without  money.' 

"  To  all  these  remarks  our  answer  was,  '  The  precious  Word 
of  God  without  money  and  without  price.'  '  The  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  for  nothing.'  '  Take  and  read  the  Book  that  all 
should  have.' 

"  A  fact  worthy  of  notice,  and  one  which  speaks  much  for 
the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  is  that  nothing  but  evangelical  truth 
was  offered  to  meet  the  spiritual  wants  of  that  vast  multitude, 
drawn  from  all  parts  of  the  civilised  world  for  pleasure  or 
business.  No  other  sect  or  religion  was  represented.  Neither 
Jew  nor  Catholic,  Mohammedan  nor  infidel,  felt  deeply  enough 
the  truth  of  the  doctrines  to  warrant  his  coming  and  sacrificing 
time  and  money  in  propagating  them.  Only  those  who  had 
felt  the  '2:)oiver  of  God'  in  their  souls  deemed  it  worth  while 
carrying  on  such  an  expensive  and  difficult  undertaking. 
'  Whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap.'  '  They 
that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy.'  The  seed  has  been  thrown 
broadcast.  Some  has  been  picked  away  by  the  enemy ;  some 
has  fallen  into  stony  ground,  some  among  the  thorns,  and  some 
into  good  ground.  Let  us  pray  earnestly  that,  watered  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  much  may  be  found  'after  many  days'  to  the 
glory  of  Christ." 

The  following  extracts  from  the  ''  Kiosque  "  report 

help  to  fill  up  the  extraordinary  picture,  which  only 

those  who  witnessed  the  scenes  can  fully  realise  : — 

"  The  Kiosque  itself  was  exceedingly  pretty,  and  was  quite 
in  harmony  with  the  surrounding  temporary  structures  erected 


Miscellaneous  :  Past  and  Present,      209 

for  the  occasion.  Tlie  various  texts  decorating  the  panels  of 
the  hexagonal  structure  at  once  arrested  the  eye  and  attention 
of  passers-by.  The  words  came  with  singular  newness  to  a 
people,  the  masses  of  whom  are  ignorant  of  the  Word  of  God. 
The  bulk  of  Frenchmen  may  be  divided  into  three  classes  : 
the  devotees  of  Kome,  the  infidel,  and  the  absolutely  ignorant. 
The  Eomanist  has  an  idm  of  some  of  the  teachings  of  God's 
"Word,  the  infidel  is  wrapped  up  in  his  worldly  wisdom,  and 
the  ignorant  are  impressed  by  either  of  the  two  former ;  but 
when  the  message  of  salvation  is  boldly  declared,  and  Christ 
Jesus  exalted,  as  the  Son  of  God  and  Saviour  of  mankind,  all 
are  impressed,  and  it  has  been  seen  that  vast  multitudes  have 
been  led  to  inquire  for  themselves  regarding  a  matter  pro- 
fessedly affecting  their  eternal  welfare.  Fifteen  thousand 
parts  of  the  Bible,  chiefly  separate  Gospels,  were  put  into  the 
hands  of  persons  of  all  ranks  and  classes  who  applied  for  them 
on  the  very  first  day.  Some  well-wishers  were  apprehensive 
lest  the  movement  might  produce  a  disturbance  by  arousing 
the  fanaticism  and  ill-will  of  the  populace ;  but  a  few  moments 
sufiiced  to  dispel  this  illusion,  for  never  was  there  a  greater 
desire  evinced  to  obtain  the  precious  gift;  and  friends  came 
gladly  forward  to  personally  assist  in  the  arduous  task  of  meet- 
ing clamorous  demands.  It  was  a  wonderful  sight.  To  prevent 
accidents  from  happening  through  the  tremendous  pressure 
round  the  Kiosque,  the  windows  had  to  be  closed  again  and 
again.  '  C'est  VEvangile,^  they  cried ;  and  down  all  the  avenues, 
in  trams,  buses,  cabs,  and  vehicles  of  all  descriptions,  in  cafes 
and  on  steamboats,  indeed  in  every  direction,  persons  might 
be  seen  perusing  the  books  they  had  received,  and  it  was  aston- 
ishing to  remark  the  almost  universal  interest  manifested.  The 
crowd  itself  was  quite  a  picture,  being  largely  made  up  of 
people  of  different  nationalities  dressed  in  the  respective  cos- 
tumes of  their  countries.  Thus  Turks,  Spaniards,  Arabs, 
Zouaves,  Italians,  in  their  national  costumes,  quaintly  dressed 
Chinese,  soldiers  in  difi"erent  uniforms,  mingled  among  well- 

P 


2IO  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

dressed  Parisians  in  the  crush  to  the  windows.  No  exception 
was  made, — rich  and  poor,  young  and  old,  male  and  female, 
were  supplied  each  in  turn ;  a  respectful  thanks  being 
invariably  given  by  way  of  response.  As  might  have  been 
expected,  such  a  work  could  not  be  carried  on  without  Satan 
seeking  to  hinder :  for  some  made  derisive  remarks,  though 
a  kindly  word  soon  disarmed  opposition,  for  we  know  nothing 
but  Christ  and  Him  crucified.  Very  few  copies  were  destroyed. 
After  the  day's  work,  those  who  had  been  engaged  in  it  kneeled 
down  with  overflowing  hearts,  and  thanked  God  for  the 
gracious  opening  He  had  afforded  for  making  known  the 
Gospel  of  His  dear  Son  ;  for  the  honour  conferred  in  permit- 
ting them  to  participate  in  it,  and  for  a  blessing  upon  their 
labours." 

"Italians,  Russians,  Poles,  Greeks,  Turks,  Dutch,  Danes, 
Swedes  and  Norwegians,  Hungarians,  Bohemians,  and  Basques, 
and  negroes  from  Angola,  Loando,  and  Senegal,  were  among 
those  who  visited  us  and  received  the  Scriptures  ;  and  a  record 
of  the  various  conversations  held  among  them  w^ould  of  itself 
constitute  an  intensely  interesting  volume. 

"The  work  increased  in  importance  and  extent  as  the 
Exhibition  advanced.  The  demand  was  at  tunes  so  great  that 
it  was  no  easy  task  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  books.  Readers 
of  the  Gospels  were  to  be  met  everywhere  in  Paris,  in  the 
public  gardens,  in  omnibuses,  seated  on  the  Boulevards,  and 
on  walking  through  the  streets.  M.  Abric,  pastor  at  the 
Evangelical  Church  of  Passy,  in  whose  district  the  Exhibition 
was  situated,  at  the  closing  meeting  of  the  services  in  the  Salle 
Evang^lique,  gave  the  following  testimony  of  the  work  carried 
on  at  the  Kiosque  Biblique.  In  his  pastoral  visitation,  he  said, 
he  found  men  surrounded  by  their  families  reading  the  Word 
of  God,  whose  custom  before  was  far  otherwise.  Often  he  met 
with  groups  of  men  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  reading  the  Por- 
tions of  Scripture  given  away  at  the  Kiosque,  and  often  was 
appealed  to  for  an  explanation  of  some  passage  not  well 


Miscellaneotis :  Past  and  Present.      2 1 1 

understood.  Still  more  encouraging  was  the  testimony  of  the 
rich  blessing  which  he  had  himself  received  as  pastor  of  the 
Passy  congregation.  Souls,  he  said,  had  been  revived,  whole 
families  had  been  added  to  the  Church,  and  many  conversions 
had  taken  place." 

"  The  happy  and  blessed  work  at  oiu'  Kiosque  began  in  right 
earnest  at  an  early  hour  yesterday  morning.  The  grand  cortege, 
had  to  pass  our  Kiosque,  and  you  may  therefore  easily  imagine 
what  crowds  of  people  we  had  around  us.  I  never  saw  any- 
thing like  it,  not  even  in  the  Exhibition  of  1867.  Early  in  the 
morning  our  own  agents,  together  with  a  band  of  other 
Christian  workers,  assembled  in  our  Kiosque,  and  implored  the 
blessing  of  our  gracious  Lord  upon  the  good  seed  about  to  be 
sown.  Encouraged  by  the  precious  promises  of  a  covenant- 
keeping  God,  all  were  refreshed  and  strengthened  to  do  battle 
against  sin  and  Satan,  seeing  the  sole  weapon  to  be  employed 
was  the  sword  of  the  Spirit. 

"  No  sooner  were  the  windows  of  the  Kiosque  opened,  than 
crowds  flocked  to  them  to  obtain  Gospels.  Language  utterly 
fails  me  to  give  you  an  idea  of  the  impressiveness  and  solemnity 
of  the  scene.  The  whole  place  at  the  Trocad^ro  was  one  mass 
of  human  beings.  Persons  of  all  ranks  and  from  many 
countries,  rich  and  poor,  could  be  seen  struggling  for  a  portion 
of  the  Word  of  God,  with,  in  almost  every  instance,  an  expres- 
sion of  joyful  thanks.  I  only  noticed  one  copy  being  torn  up. 
This  was  done  by  a  so-called  gentleman,  who  threw  it  into  the 
face  of  one  of  the  distributors.  Among  the  crowd  were  large 
numbers  of  soldiers,  sailors,  ofi&cers,  and  policemen,  to  whom 
we  gave  by  preference.  Also  several  priests  came  uj)  and 
received  portions  of  the  Word  of  God.  The  best  idea  of  the 
eagerness  of  the  populace  to  get  the  books  you  may  gather 
from  the  fact  that  we  had  to  shut  the  windows  of  the  Kiosque 
more  than  a  dozen  times  to  lessen  the  pressure  of  the  crowd. 

"  An  English  gentleman  came  up  and  asked  one  of  the  dis- 
tributors how  and  by  whom  this  work  was  carried  on.     He 


2  12  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

directed  liim  to  me.  When  I  told  him  that  it  was  done  by 
voluntary  contributions,  he  gave  me  £h  for  the  work.  I  com- 
menced to  explain  the  effort  to  him,  but  he  said,  '  I  and  my 
two  daughters  have  watched  your  work  for  some  time,  and 
were  delighted  to  see  the  people  flocking  to  you  for  the  books  ; 
I  don't  require  to  know  more,  it  is  a  most  blessed  work.' " 

"  This  summer  in  Paris  will  be  long  remembered  as  one  of 
the  most  eventful  for  many  years — eventful  not  by  reason  of 
blood  and  war,  but  for  the  wonderful  array  of  the  achievements 
of  science,  invention,  and  art,  as  seen  in  the  Exposition.  This 
has  been  an  amazing  centre  of  attraction,  not  only  to  the  French 
people  in  particular,  but  to  the  world  in  general.  Every  visitor 
to  Paris  must  have  been  struck  with  the  gathering  together  of 
individuals  from  among  the  different  nations  of  the  earth,  more 
especially  by  the  numbers  of  people  from  the  East.  Among 
these  may  be  seen  the  noble-looking  Indian,  with  his  stately 
gait.  Looking  at  such,  his  bearing  so  grand  and  self-possessed, 
one  wonders  what  he  thinks  of  the  Westerns  as  he  mingles 
with  '  us  meaner  things.'  Then  there  are  Jews,  Turks,  and 
Mussulmans,  along  with  the  German,  the  Swede,  the  Spaniard, 
and  the  Italian.  Among  the  Orientals,  there  are  perhaps  none 
who  seem  to  be  more  at  home  than  the  Chinaman,  as  he  moves 
about  in  his  own  part  of  the  Exhibition.  He  is  quick-witted, 
and  full  of  humour,  his  dress  always  suited  to  the  weather. 
When  the  sun  is  fierce,  it  is  a  mass  of  snowy  whiteness  (giving 
an  idea  of  delicious  coolness),  with  a  stout  umbrella  overhead, 
the  long  tail  of  sleek,  plaited  hair  adding  greatly  to  effect  in 
the  picturesque  appearance  of  this  wonderful  Eastern  ;  whilst 
on  cooler  days  his  attire  is  different,  being  then  more  sub- 
stantial, and  showing  a  combination  of  fine  artistic  colour. 

"It  would  be  most  instructive  to  know  what  impressions 
these  people  will  carry  back  with  them  of  European  life  and 
manners.  Many  of  them,  it  is  believed,  will  take  with  them  a 
priceless  treasure,  even  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.  Among 
the  different  works  done  in  Paris  at  this  time  for  the  advance- 


Miscellaneoits :  Past  and  Present.      2 1 3 

ment  of  the  kingdom,  one  of  the  chief  has  been  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  Word.  This  has  been  going  on  all  during  the 
Exhibition,  at  the  Kiosque  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Bible  Stand — 
week  after  week,  Sunday  after  Sunday.  To  those  who  have 
not  seen  it,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  give  an  idea  of  that  great 
sight.  By  the  rules  of  the  Society,  the  Gospels  are  given 
gratuitously,  one  to  each  person  in  his  own  language,  thereby 
recalling  the  old  days  when  each  man  in  his  own  tongue  heard 
'  the  wonderful  works  of  God.'  As  the  multitudes  pass  by, 
the  Gospels  are  offered  to  them,  either  from  the  window  of  the 
Kiosque  or  by  some  one  standing  outside.  One  hears  the  words 
quietly  spoken,  '  Acceptez,  acceptez,  messieurs  ;  c'est  gratuit ; 
c'est  une  portion  de  la  Parole  de  Dieu  ;  c'est  I'Evangile.' 
Gladly  are  the  little  books  taken,  and  often  the  receivers 
appear  to  go  on  their  way  rejoicing.  Many  of  them,  having 
occasion  to  pass  frequently,  evidently  take  the  opportunity  to 
make  a  complete  set  of  the  Gospels,  and  ask  for  the  different 
colours  :  '  Donnez-moi  un  bleu,  un  vert,  un  jaune,'  &c.  &c. 
Thus  millions  of  copies  have  been  distributed." 

"  Upon  the  other  side  of  this  &alU  stood  the  Kiosque  of  the 
Crystal  Palace  Bible  Stand,  covered  with  well-selected  life- 
giving  texts  in  French,  &c.,  such  as  '  God  so  loved  the  world, 
that  he  gave  His  only-begotten  Son,'  &c.  (John  iii.  16,  17). 
Thus  they  who  'ran  might  read.'  From  its  open  windows 
were  distributed,  in  twenty-two  of  the  languages  of  the  world, 
one  million  and  a-half  of  Gospels  and  Testaments.  Numbers 
came  and  sought  for  them,  prince  and  peer  and  peasant,  and 
even  priest. 

"I  would  to  God  that  'a  great  multitude  might  become 
obedient  to  the  faith.'  Children  eagerly  besought,  and  priests 
anxiously  and  respectfully  asked  for  the  words  of  eternal  life. 
I  saw  this,  and  so  can  attest  it.  Sometimes  a  carriage  would 
drive  up.  Perhaps  it  was  Madame  MacMahon,  who  bought 
two  Bibles.  Again,  it  would  be  the  Prince  and  Princess  of 
Wales,  who  took  great  interest  in  the  work,  and  were  presented 


2 1 4  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

with  a  copy  of  the  smallest  Bible  in  the  world.*  The  oppor- 
tunity given  of  God  was  not  neglected,  and  the  harvest  at  the 
reaping  day  will,  with  the  Divine  blessing,  be  bountiful.  The 
sight  was  noble.  The  great  space  inside  and  outside  of  the 
Trocad^ro  was  often  thronged.  I  have  watched  the  people, 
sometimes  nearly  100,000,  at  others  nearly  200,000,  like  suc- 
cessive waves  of  the  sea,  passing  in  dense  masses  the  Pont 
d'lena,  and  pouring  out  of  the  Trocadero  gates. 

"  Outside  the  Kiosque  there  would  be  hurrying  crowds, 
whilst  inside  the  quiet  distributors  were  handing  out  the 
priceless  treasure  of  the  truth  'without  money  and  without 
j)rice,'  so  fertilising  and  blessing  the  world." 

So  mucli  for  the  distribution.  But  this  was  only 
a  part  of  the  work  done  in  connection  with  the 
Balle.  The  Word  was  preached  by  the  living 
voice;  and  (it  is  estimated)  was  heard  by  above  a 
hundred  thousand  people. 

But   I   must   not    linger   over   these    scenes,    so 

*  The  Times  of  3rd  November,  1S78,  has  the  following  para- 
graph: — "The  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales,  accompanied  by  Sir 
Philip  Owen,  Colonel  Probyn,  and  Mr.  Sykes,  paid  a  visit  yester- 
dav  to  the  Kiosque  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Bible  Stand  Committee, 
opposite  the  Trocadt^ro.  They  expressed  great  interest  in  the  work, 
particulars  of  which  were  given  them  by  Mr.  James  Alexander, 
who  has  had  the  superintendence  of  it,  and  accepted  a  copy  of  the 
smallest  Bible  in  the  world  ;  a  book  printed  at  Oxford  in  minute 
type,  and  on  very  thin,  silky  paper.  On  leaving,  the  Prince  and 
Princess,  each,  made  a  handsome  contribution  to  the  fund.  The 
Kiosque  will  close  this  day  week.  Nearly  a  million  and  a-half  of 
Gospels  and  New  Testaments,  in  twenty-two  languages,  have  been 
given  to  applicants  at  its  wickets,  the  number  last  Sunday  alone 
being  41,000  ;  and  English,  French,  and  other  influential  visitors 
have  evinced  cordial  sympathy  with  the  undertaking,  which  is 
regarded  as  having  been  highly  successful." 


Miscella7ieoiLs :  Past  ani  Prese^it.     215 

marvellous,  so  unique,  and  so  cheering.  Mr.  M'All's 
workers  were,  in  addition  to  their  ordinary  labours, 
busy  at  the  Balle  and  the  Kiosque.  How  they 
were  able  to  undergo  this  increase  of  labour  is  a 
wonder;  especially  when  we  take  into  account  the 
distances  between  their  several  stations  and  the 
Trocadero. 

SECTION  III. 
The  Latest  Good  News. 

Last  year's  report  (1878)  is  worthy  of  being 
studied.  The  work  develops  and  ramifies ;  and 
one  feels  in  reading  the  narratives  of  the  different 
departments  that  they  are  not  coloured ;  or  rather 
that  very  much  remains  untold.  Indeed,  from 
what  we  have  ourselves  heard,  there  is  much  that 
could  not  be  made  public;  and  yet,  that  which 
remains  untold  is  more  interesting  than  that  which 
the  report  narrates. 

The  stations  still  continue  to  swell  out,  and  to 
require  enlargement.  New  ones  also  are  begun. 
Numbers  are  still  rising.  No  diminution  of  earnest 
listening  anywhere.  Cases  of  deep  interest  are 
occurring  weekly.  The  labourers  are  cheered  in 
their  toil  by  no  small  measure  of  success,  both 
among  old   and  young.      But  the  cry  is  for  more 


2i6  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

labourers.''^"  There  is  often  difficulty  in  supplying 
the  stations  properly ;  and  the  burdens  are  often 
heavy.  Several  changes  have  occurred  among  the 
workers,  some  having  left ;  but  their  places  are 
partially  filled  up  by  others,  though  by  no  means 
to  the  extent  desired.  Occasional  helpers  and 
visitors  have  not  been  few ;  but  these  can  only 
imperfectly  do  the  work,  though  their  services  are 
greatly  prized.  Adult  classes,  prayer  meetings^ 
ouvroirs  are  still  carried  on  with  vigour;  and 
domiciliary  visitations  proceed  earnestly  and  perse- 
veringly.  The  lending  libraries  are  in  active 
operation  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Dodds ; 
and  this  department  of  the  Mission,  according  to 

*  "  If  we  had  only  men  and  means,  France  is  white  to  the  harvest. 
There  is  a  spirit  in  the  meetings,  among  the  men  especially,  which 
is  most  encouraging  :  a  readiness  to  hear  and  to  understand,  and  a 
response  to  the  teaching,  which  is  more  than  passing  in  its  duration 
and  effects.  One  who  calls  himself  *  an  old  disciple  of  Plato  '  is  an 
eager  listener  at  the  Salle,  and,  we  think,  a  believer  groping  his 
way.  He  speaks  now  like  one  whose  heart  is  touched.  I  conversed 
with  a  poor  man  at  Kivoli  the  other  night,  shabbily  but  neatly 
dressed.  I  find  that  he  reads  over  every  night  the  passages  of  the 
New  Testament  which  he  hears  in  the  meeting.     I  promised  him  a 

whole  Bible,  as  I  learn  from  Mme.  T ,  the  Bible-woman,  that  he 

is  too  poor  to  buy  one.  She  tells  me  that  he  has  come  for  two 
years,  and  that  he  is  entirely  changed, — his  very  face  is  different ; 
and  his  neatness  of  person,  even  in  poverty,  was  the  next  thing  she 
remarked.  He  goes  now  to  Dr.  Fisch's  church,  and  attends  his 
Bible  class.  This  is  the  fourth  case  of  the  kind  within  a  few  months 
in  this  station  alone,  and  there  are  similar  cases  in  other  stations." — 
Private  letter  of  Mr.  Dodds,  20th  February,  1879. 


Miscella7teo2LS  :  Past  and  Present.     2  1 7 

his  report  (p.  18),  "has  by  degrees  grown  in  size 
and  importance,  and  may  justly  be  said  to  fill 
what  would  otherwise  be  a  blank  in  its  complete- 
ness." But  greater  variety  of  tracts  is  demanded ; 
and  Mr.  Dodds  is  in  communication  with  the 
London  Tract  Society  on  the  subject.  That  Society 
has  already  done  noble  work  in  Paris,  and  is  pre- 
paring to  meet  the  wants  of  the  Mission  more  fully. 
Indeed,  all  the  religious  societies  of  England  and 
Scotland  are  throwing  themselves  into  the  Paris 
work  with  right  goodwill.  They  have  become 
thoroughly  alive  to  the  greatness  of  the  enterprise 
and  to  the  exigencies  of  the  time.  We  are  sure 
that  they  will  not  grudge  the  additional  draught 
upon  their  resources;  and  we  are  as  sure  that  their 
constituents  and  subscribers  will  heartily  sustain 
them  in  any  such  increase  of  liberality  for  such  a 
movement  and  in  such  a  crisis. 

Of  the  ouvroirs  of  Gare  d'lvry  and  Boulogne-sur- 
Seine,  Madame  Dalencourt  thus  writes'''  : — 

"At  the  Gare  d'lvry,  seventy-eight  mothers  attend,  more 
or  less  regularly,  my  Wednesday  meeting,  the  average  being 
thirty-eight.  You  know  how  degraded  and  wretched,  in  many 
ways,  is  the  population  of  this  district ;  and  often  the  French 
and  Enghsh  friends  who  help  me  join  with  me  in  saying  how 

*  Madame  Dalencourt  is  a  devoted  lady  who,  since  the  disasters 
which  befell  her  country  some  years  ago,  has  never  ceased  to  pray 
for  it,  and  to  labour  among  the  mothers  of  Paris, 


2i8  The  IVJiite  Fields  of  France. 

good  the  Lord  has  been  in  sending  you  there,  and  us  after 
you. 

"  Our  little  savings  bank  has  led  many  to  form  habits  of 
economy ;  the  lending  library  has  brought  several  husbands, 
sons  and  brothers  of  our  women,  into  the  habit  of  passing 
their  leisure-hours  at  the  fireside,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  persons  have  acquired  a  relish  for  a  pure  literature  of  which, 
beforetime,  they  had  no  knowledge.  Three  marriages  have 
taken  place  among  our  people,  in  cases  where  that  sacred  rite 
had  been  neglected,  and  another  is  to  follow.  AVe  regard  it  as 
a  sign  of  real  moral  progress  that  we  have  to  combat  less  than 
formerly  with  the  mendicity  which  so  abounds  in  this  district. 
We  visit  all  our  women  in  their  homes,  and  experience  has 
proved  to  us  that,  usually,  more  amelioration  is  brought  into  a 
family  by  repeated  visits  and  friendly  counsels  than  by  giving 
money,  &c.  Besides,  we  have  various  means  of  helping  without 
pauperising  them, — our  savings  bank,  where  many  make  de- 
posits in  order  to  redeem  articles  from  the  pawnbroker's,  until 
they  shall  have  forgotten  the  way  thither, — our  materials  for 
work,  vegetables,  &c.,  bought  by  us  wholesale,  and  sold  to  them 
at  a  slight  loss.  Best  of  all,  some  of  them  begin  to  believe 
that  it  is  true  that  God  loves  them,  and  that  brings  forbearance 
and  patience  into  their  mutual  relations;  and  they  better  under- 
stand why  we  approach  and  take  by  the  hand  some  poor  or 
despised  woman  who  was  hiding  herself  at  the  extremity  of 
the  room  or  behind  a  pillar. 

"  Kespecting  Boulogne-sur-Seine,  each  Thursday,  besides  a 
school  (or  children's  religious  class)  frequented  by  forty-four 
boys  and  thirty-three  girls,  we  have  a  women's  meeting  exactly 
like  that  of  Gare  d'lvry.  Their  number  rarely  exceeds  twenty- 
five  ;  but  one  feels  oneself  there  to  be  in  an  atmosphere  of  piety 
and  love,  surrounded  by  the  truly  converted  and  those  who  are 
seeking  the  Lord.  Our  seven  years'  and  your  two  years'  work 
there  are  manifestly  blessed.  They  resemble  a  large  family  or 
a  little  conOTes'ation. 


Miscellaneoits  :  Past  and  Present.      219 

"One  day,  before  our  accustomed  meditation,  I  asked  them  on 
what  subject  they  would  wish  me  to  speak.  After  a  moment's 
pause,  one  said,  *  On  the  love  of  Christ ;  it  is  that  which  we 
least  understand,  and  that  which  does  us  the  most  good.'  An- 
other added,  '  Oh  speak  on  the  promise  that  if  we  believe  in 
Jesus  our  family  also  shall  be  saved.'  A  third  begged  me  to 
speak '  on  the  duty  of  reading  the  Bible  aloud  to  our  husbands 
in  the  evening  when  they  are  smoking,  and  to  persuade  our 
sons  to  come  to  the  meetings.' 

"  Dear  Mr.  M'All,  I  joyfully  accept  your  recent  offer  to  hold 
another  women's  meeting  in  the  new  mission-hall  you  antici- 
pate to  open  in  the  district  of  Mont  Parnasse.  I  feel  assured 
that  there  also  we  shall  be  blessed.  I  feel  increasingly  happy 
to  labour  for  the  Lord  Jesus  and  my  compatriots  side  by  side 
with  you,  and  I  see  more  and  more  of  the  real  good  accom- 
plished by  your  meetings,  and  of  the  simple  and  unobtrusive 
way  in  which  they  adapt  themselves  to  the  tendencies  of  our 
Parisian  people.  Some  weeks  ago,  one  of  our  women  of  the 
Gare  d'lvry  had  to  leave,  in  order  to  live  in  the  centre  of  Paris, 
'■  I  do  not  yet  know,'  she  said  to  me,  '  where  I  shall  reside,  but 
it  must  be  near  some  one  of  the  Conferences  M'All  (the  name 
by  which  they  style  the  meetings),  for  I  can  no  longer  do  with- 
out it,  it  is  my  one  comfort.'  She  has  gone  to  live  in  a  small 
street  beside  your  station  of  the  Kue  de  Rivoli. 

"  On  the  first  night  of  this  new  year,  I  was  presenting  before 
the  Lord  my  family,  my  friends,,  and  my  beloved  country. 
Respecting  the  last,  the  words  of  M.  Rosseeuw  St.  Hilaire 
came  into  my  mind,  '  Paris  is  now  encircled  by  an  evangelistic 
girdle,'  and  in  thanking  God  for  having  done  so  great  things 
among  us,  I  besought  Him  so  to  multiply  your  mission-stations 
that  Paris  and  all  France  may  not  only  be  encircled  but  covered 
with  them  !" 

And  again — 
"  At  Boulogne-sur-Seine  we  have  never  more  than  twenty- 


2  20  The  White  Fields  of  Fra7ice. 

five  present,  but  in  that  little  meeting  Christian  love  abounds. 
There  are  souls  that  have  been  born  anew,  and  others  who  are 
entering  on  the  narrow  way,  and  earnestly  wish  to  be  taught. 
One  of  the  most  striking  signs  of  their  spiritual  progress  is  that 
they  love  one  another,  are  kind  to  and  help  each  other.  One 
might  say  that  they  are  a  great  united  family,  or  a  devout  little 
congregation.  Several  have  brought  their  husbands,  and  not 
without  difficulty,  to  Mr.  M'All's  meetings.  One  of  them  is 
learning  to  read,  and  must  have  her  lesson  out  of  the  New 
Testament,  or  from  the  hymn-book,  '  tliaX  the  first  use  of  her 
hwioledge  may  be  for  the  good  of  her  souV  One  died  very  lately 
in  peace.  Two  are  trying  to  introduce  the  habit  of  reading  the 
Bible  aloud  in  their  families.  Referring  to  this,  one  of  them 
said  to  me  quite  recently,  'What  troubles  me  is  that  my  husband 
always  asks  for  explanations  ;  I  can  answer  easily  for  myself, 
but  it  is  difficult  for  others  ;  can  you  not  lend  me  a  book,, 
which  explains  truth  in  a  simple  way,  as  the  gentlemen  and 
ladies  do,  who  speak  to  us?  That  would  be  very  useful  to  me.*' 
Another  said,  '  My  husband  knows  more  than  I  do  ;  it  is  he 
who  explains  ;  but  what  troubles  me  is  that,  when  I  speak  of 
reading,  he  says  to  me,  "  Listen,  wife :  if  you  want  me  to  hear 
you  to  the  end,  let  me  lie  down,  give  me  my  pipe,  and  read 
away ;  I  shall  then  be  as  happy  as  a  king." '  She  added, '  I  do 
not  dare  to  say  anything,  for  every  evening  he  is  very  tired ; 
however,  he  listens  well,  and  often  says, "  Read  me  that  again.'"' 
She  was  glad  when  I  said  to  her,  that  it  was  well  worth  while 
to  go  on  as  she  was  doing,  rather  than  to  show  that  she  was 
annoyed,  and  not  sympathise  with  her  tired  husband." 

Madame  Dalencourt  has  mothers'  meetings  in 
three  of  our  halls  in  Paris. 

Some  of  the  more  striking  incidents  of  the  year 
are  thus  briefly  recorded  by  Mr.  M-'All.  They  in- 
dicate the  true  progress  of  the  work ;   and,  notwith- 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     221 

standing  some  sameness  (as  in  such  narratives  there 
must  always  be),  are  wonderfully  diversified.  By 
those  interested  in  the  work,  they  will  be  read  as 
the  most  important  items  of  the  report : — 

"  The  funeral  of  the  celebrated  M. took  place  immedi- 
ately before  our  meeting  at .     The  mission-room,  usually 

filled,  was  densely  crowded  by  those  returning  from  the  ceme- 
tery. Many  of  these  entered  from  curiosity,  doubtless,  and 
were  unacquainted  even  with  the  design  of  such  a  meeting. 
Among  them,  three  stalwart  men  were  noticed,  evidently  pre- 
disposed to  treat  the  occasion  with  proud  disdain.  After  a 
time,  their  aspect  changed,  and  they  became  eager  listeners. 
Our  friends  Messrs.  Peretto  and  Saillens  exhibited  the  radical 
defect  of  the  most  benevolent  and  gifted  of  human  characters 
without  the  Divine  Saviour.  At  the  close,  these  three  men 
stepped  u]3  to  the  conductor,  saying,  '  Allow  us  to  shake  hands 
with  you  before  leaving ;  we  wish  to  say  to  you  that  you  ought, 
if  possible,  to  open  Salles  de  Conferences  like  this  in  all  the 
quarters  of  Paris.  All  that  has  been  spoken  respecting  Jesus 
Christ  this  afternoon  is  true  and  good ;  we  Parisians  have 
wrong  ideas  of  Him  and  need  to  be  set  right.  Try,  then,  to 
open  similar  places  elsewhere.' 

"  The  Eeport  of  the  Societe  Chretienne  clu  Nord  for  1876-7 
contains  the  following  paragraph  : — Pastor  Lorriaux  said,  •  I 
was  speaking  some  time  ago  in  a  meeting  in  Belfast,  and  at  the 
close  a  young  man,  waiter  in  a  public  dining-room,  came  up  to 
me  and  gave  me  half-a-sovereign,  saying,  "  I  am  a  Frenchman ; 
I  heard  the  Gospel  preached  in  Paris  by  Mr.  M'All,  and  I 
desire  to  aid  in  spreading  it.'"  Mr.  Lorriaux  added, '  How  many 
others  (among  the  attendants  of  evangelistic  meetings)  carry 
away  the  truth  hidden  in  their  heart,  which  afterwards  springs 
up  and  bears  fruit  to  salvation  !' 

"At , during  an  after-meeting,  a  young  man,  an  attorney's 


22  2  The  White  Fields  of  Finance. 

clerk,  bore  the  following  testimony : — '  About  a  year  ago,  I  was 
passing  along  yonder  street  one  Sunday  evening  ;  a  small  bill 
of  invitation  was  put  into  my  hand  ;  I  read,  "  Des  amis  anglais 
et  frauQais  desirent  vous  parler  de  I'amour  de  Jesus-Christ."  I 
thought,  I  will  go  in  and  hear  what  it  is  like.  I  well  remember 
the  spot  wdiere  I  sat ;  just  in  that  corner  near  the  door.  I  had 
gone  in  merely  to  amuse  myself ;  T  remained  to  listen  and  to 
think.  I  perceived  that  there  had  been  something  very  wrong 
in  my  heart  and  life.  I  have  seen  myself  a  lost  sinner,  and 
can  now  trust  in  Christ  as  my  Saviour.  I  wish  that  you  all 
might  have  the  same  experience.' 

"  Two  families,  in  two  of  the  stations,  have  very  recently 
been  brought  under  the  power  of  the  Gospel,  and  have  con- 
nected themselves  with  neighbouring  churches. 

"  Received  a  very  touching  letter,  written  on  his  sick-bed  in 
the  hospital,  from  an  ouvrier.  He  states,  '  Before  my  illness, 
I  had  the  happiness  to  frequent  your  excellent  meetings,  and 
there  I  have  found  great  benefit.  I  then  began  to  devote  my 
leisure  moments  to  reading  the  Bible  which  had  lain  for  twenty 
years  in  my  house.  Above  all,  since  coming  here  (into  the 
hospital),  where  I  have  been  for  nearly  three  months,  the  read- 
ing of  the  New  Testament  has  led  me  to  give  myself  entirely 
to  God  ;  so  that  I  now  find  myself  truly  and  extremely  happy. 
Although  I  sufter  from  a  terrible  pulmonary  disease,  I  find  a 
great  joy  of  heart  amidst  my  pain,  having  received  the  gift  of 
free  salvation  by  Jesus.  Read,  if  you  will,  these  lines  to  your 
co-workers,  who  love  the  conversion  of  precious  souls  and  the 
advancement  of  God's  kingdom ;  and  use  them,  if  you  think 
well,  for  the  encouragement  of  those  who,  like  me,  have  found 
great  difficulty  in  definitely  giving  themselves  to  the  Lord.' 
The  writer  concludes  by  expressing  the  desire  that,  if  restored 
to  health,  he  might  be  permitted  to  utter  a  few  words  in 
one  of  our  meetings  in  order  to  bear  testimony  to  a  Saviour's 
grace,  and  to  persuade  his  compatriots  to  make  trial  of 
it  for  themselves.    We  have  every  reason  to  believe  that 


Miscellaneotcs  :  Past  and  Present.     223 

this  man,  still  a  sufi'erer,  has  indeed  '  passed  from  death  unto 
life.' 

"  Striking  case  of  a  man  of  middle  age,  native  of  the  island 
of  G2iadalou2?e  (a  French  colony).  He  came  over  as  an  ex- 
hibitor. An  enfeeblement  of  health  during  the  Exjjosition 
delayed  his  return  to  the  colony.  During  this  time  he  became 
a  deeply-interested  listener  at  the  SalU  Evangelique  and  Kue 
de  Rivoli.  On  the  eve  of  his  departure  he  told  us  that  he  had 
sought  to  learn  as  much  as  possible  of  the  blessed  truth  of  the 
Gospel  before  leaving  Paris,  in  order  to  make  it  known  to  his 
neighbours  in  the  island  on  his  return. 

''A  young  friend,  a  missionary  student,  who  devotes  him- 
self to  the  work  at station,  after  describing  the  interest 

awakened  at  a  weekly  prayer  meeting  recently  commenced 
there,  bears  the  following  pleasing  testimony : — '  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  much  personal  benefit  I  derive  from  this  work ;  I 
cannot  sufficiently  express  what  a  privilege  it  is  for  me.   When 

I  shall  go  forth  to  my  missionary  career,  the [name  of  the 

station]  will  take  a  first  place  among  the  motives  which  have 
urged  me  forward  to  labour  for  the  advancement  of  the  king- 
dom of  God.' 

"  One  of  the  pastors  when  visiting  a  great  hospital,  heard  a 
patient,  whom  he  did  not  know,  calling  him  to  his  bedside. 
The  suffering  man  stretched  his  hands  towards  him  and  said, 
'  Oh,  sir,  I  know  you ;  I  have  heard  you  speak  in  the  Faubourg 
St.  Antoine  room,  and  now  that  I  lie  here,  I  find  all  my  help 
and  all  my  comfort  in  trying  to  recollect  what  I  used  to  hear 
in  those  blessed  meetings.' 

"  Our  indefatigable  visitor,  Madame ,  records  about  850 

domiciliary  visits  during  the  year.  The  following  extracts  are 
translated  from  her  report : — *  Many  of  the  people  have  asked 
me,  with  earnestness,  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved  ;  and  a 
considerable  number,  who,  at  first,  came  to  the  meetings  merely 
to  pass  an  hour,  have  become  seriously  impressed,  and  ask  me 
for  a  place  of  worship  for  the  Sunday  forenoon.   In  this  respect, 


2  24  '^^^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

great  progress  has  "been  made  tins  year,  and  I  take  it  as  a  proof 
that  thej'  are  at  least  seeking  the  truth.  I  observe  a  great 
change,  also,  respecting  the  insight  of  spiritual  things  on  the 
part  of  those  who  have  long  attended  ;  they  are  far  more  en- 
lightened than  formerly.  An  aged  woman,  whom  I  visited  on 
her  death-bed,  said  to  me,  "  How  happy  I  am  that  I  was  ever 
led  to  Boulevard  Ornano  ;  otherwise  I  should  not  have  known 
my  Saviour.  I  thank  with  all  my  heart  those  dear  gentlemen 
who  speak  of  Jesus,  and  the  book  you  have  given  me — the 
New  Testament — is  the  best  I  have  ever  read.  Now  I  am  too 
feeble  to  read  it ;  but  I  say  to  Jesus,  'Abide  with  me  ;  leave 
me  never  more,'  and  then  all  is  peace."  She  died  in  this  frame 
of  mind.  Another  aged  woman  said,  "  How  much  I  thank  you 
for  the  meetings  !  I  used  to  count  upon  being  saved  by  my 
virtues,  but  now  I  know  that  I  am  saved  gratuitously.  Oh  ! 
how  I  love  my  Saviour,  who  has  done  so  much  for  me."  She 
has  lately  undergone  a  painful  operation  for  her  sight ;  all  the 
while  she  was  full  of  joy.  To  another  of  our  hearers,  who  tries 
to  tell  her  husband  (who  is  unable  to  leave  the  house)  what  she 
hears  in  the  meetings,  I  put  the  question,  "  Do  you  understand 
how  it  is  that  a  sinner  can  be  reconciled  with  God  ] "  She 
replied  that  she  believed  that  the  death  of  Jesus  had  done 
everything.  I  asked  if  she  believed  herself  to  be  pardoned  ; 
"  Yes,"  she  answered,  "  I  believe  what  the  Bible  says,  and 
surely  I  must  be  pardoned,  for  I  feel  myself  delivered  from  a 
heavy  burden."  A  man  and  his  wife,  who  have  been  plunged 
into  great  temporal  distress  during  the  year,  say  that  what  they 
have  heard  in  the  meetings  gives  them  strength  to  bear  up 
amidst  all  their  suffering.  Another  of  our  people,  formerly  pious 
in  her  way,  seeking  to  work  out  her  own  righteousness,  says, 
"  All  that  I  have  tried  to  do  could  not  save  me.  Now  I  know 
what  is  needful ;  it  is  that  I  accept  by  faith  the  gift  of  God, 
eternal  life  in  Jesus  ;  but  I  see  clearly  that,  for  this,  I  need 
the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit."  A  mother  told  me  that  she  had 
been  alienated  from  her  son,  and  would  not  see  him,  but  that 


Miscellaneous:  Past  mid  Present,     225 

now  she  was  happy  to  have  been  enabled  to  pardon  him, 
through  what  she  had  heard  in  the  meetings.  "  For,"  added 
she,  "  I  also  have  need  of  pardon.'"  Our  friend  adds  the  record 
of  six  or  seven  other  equally  interesting  cases,  which  want  of 
space  obliges  us  to  omit. 

"  Miss  N reports  the  case  of  one  of  our  regular  hearers 

of  Les  Ternes  station,  of  whose  joy  and  surprise  on  first  hearing 
the  Gospel  there  mention  was  made  in  our  report  of  1876. 
'  Wife,'  he  then  said  on  going  home,  '  I  have  found  such  a 
religion  as  I  had  no  idea  existed ;  it  is  so  good,  so  good  !  You 
must  come  also.'  During  a  long  and  painful  illness,  he  often 
said  that  his  only  remaining  desire  was  to  be  allowed  once  more 
to  revisit  the '  chlrzs  reunions^  '  When  no  longer  able  to  speak,' 
adds  Miss  N., '  he  kept  pointing  heavenwards  as  our  next  meet- 
ing-place.' She  mentions  also  one  of  the  Sunday  scholars  who 
had  died  in  peace,  desiring  that  her  favourite  hymn  might  be 
sung  over  her  grave." 

The   following   additional    page   of   incidents    is 
given  by  Mr.  Dodds  : — • 

"  Met  at  the  Salle  Evangelique  a  liberated  communist,  who 
had  learned  to  read  during  his  imprisomnent,  being  taught  by 
a  well-known  savant,  a  freethinker.  By  this  means  the  man 
had  been  enabled  now  to  read  the  Bible. 

"  Have  been  much  interested  in  an  intelligent  ouvrier  at 

M .     He  reads  attentively  his  Bible,  and  a  new  light  seems 

breaking  into  his  soul.  In  a  recent  letter,  he  says, — '  I  have 
read  much  in  the  gospels,  and  see  clearly  that  onl}^  there  is  to 
be  found  the  truth  and  the  religion  which  speaks  to  us  of  the 
mercy  of  our  Saviour.' 

"  At  the station  I  meet  often  a  whole  family,  the  father 

decorated  with  medals  for  saving  lives  from  drowning,  who 
eagerly  listen  to  the  addresses,  and  converse  at  the  end  on 
what  they  have  heard.     They  sometimes  gather  their  neigh- 

Q 


2  26  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

hours  together  to  sing  the  hymns.  We  have  reason  to  believe 
that  the  mother  is  a  decided  Christian. 

"  Miss tokl  me  of  a  girl  who  found  one  of  the  small 

papers  of  invitation  to  the  Rue  de  Rivoli  rkmion  crumpled  up 
at  the  bottom  of  a  waste-basket.  This  brought  her  to  the 
meeting,  and  finally  to  Christ.  I  knew  her,  and  can  add  my 
testimony  to  this.  She  is  now  in  a  Prefet's  family  in  the  south 
of  France,  who  sent  a  message  to  Dr.  Fisch  saying  that  he 
would  be  glad  if  a  meeting  were  opened  in  his  village." 

One  extract  more  from  the  report  will  suffice  : — ■ 

"  Mr.  Dodds  adds  most  interesting  particulars  respecting  the 
ouvrier,  an  extract  from  whose  letter,  written  in  the  hospital, 
appears  on  a  previous  page.  He  states  that,  when  a  very  young 
man,  seeing  a  Bible  in  the  hands  of  a  friend,  he  saved  up  money 
enough  to  buy  one,  which  he  read  eagerly,  and  with  conviction 
of  its  truth.  Coming  to  Paris,  where  he  was  required  to  work 
all  the  Sunday,  he  became  quite  neglectful,  and  for  nearly 
twenty  years  God's  Book  remained  unopened.  He  thus  writes 
respecting  his  own  history  : — '  Though  I  suffer  much,  I  am  far 
happier  than  when  I  lived  far  from  God,  and  was  a  worldling 
in  good  health.  It  is  in  these  meetings  that  the  Saviour  has 
given  me  the  grace  that  I  needed,  to  give  myself  to  Him.'  Some 
of  his  expressions,  both  in  writing,  and  when  friends  \dsit  him 
in  the  lonely  room,  wdiich,  in  all  likelihood,  he  will  not  leave 
again,  are  very  striking,  especially  those  evidencing  his  patience 
and  contentment.  For  example, — '  Sometimes  I  suffer  much, 
but  I  have  my  bed  ;  my  Saviour  suffered  07i  the  cross,  but  I 
have  my  bed.'  '  Since  I  found  peace  with  God  by  the  grace 
which  flows  from  the  Saviour's  blood,  it  seems  to  me  that  my 
bodily  sufferings  are  more  easily  borne.  My  Saviour  !  to  me 
He  is  the  Pearl  of  great  price  and  a  faithful  comforter.  How 
happy  should  I  be  to  speak  to  crowds  of  the  love  of  this 
Saviour  for  men  ! '    On  the  first  day  of  1879,  he  writes  :  '  The 


Miscellaneotcs :  Past  and  Present.     227 

Lord  comforts  me  always,  though  I  suffer  much  at  present.  I 
\vish  I  had  health  and  life  now,  for  I  have  been  too  long  far 
away  from  God,  and  to-day,  when  I  would  work  in  the  Saviour's 
vineyard,  I  am  unable,"  He  also  describes  the  eagerness  of 
his  fellow-patients,  when  in  the  hospital,  to  read  the  books 
we  had  sent  to  him.     His  love  for  the  Bible  is  wonderful. 

"  Mr.  Dodds  adds,  ''  I  have  been  much  struck  with  the 
number  of  people  at  all  the  meetings  who  often  remain  behind 
to  ask  counsel  and  speak  of  religion  and  of  what  they  have 
heard.  I  have  also  had  several  calling  on  me  at  my  house 
with  whom  I  have  had  deeply  interesting  conversations.' " 

Mr.  Heriot's  report,  for  the  year,  of  his  labours 
among  the  young  is  most  interesting.  He  has  left 
for  Scotland  ;  but  we  are  sure  he  will  never  forget 
the  useful  days  spent  among  the  Parisian  children. 
He  has  sowed  seed  among  them  which  will  spring 
up  when  he  has  gone.      He  thus  writes  : — 

"  Many  hundreds  of  New  Testaments  have  been  gained  by 
the  children  as  rewards,  as  also  a  still  larger  number  of  illus- 
trated tracts  and  periodicals.  There  is  a  systematic  way  for 
them  to  gain  these  ;  by  this  means  a  large  number  of  gospel 
publications,  above  all,  the  Scriptures  themselves,  find  their 
way  into  the  surrounding  houses,  and  into  the  hands  of  many 
who  might  otherwise  never  have  an  opportunity  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  truth. 

"Many  interesting  incidents  might  be  mentioned.  We 
shall  briefly  mention  a  few.  Miss  Matheson,  who,  with  Miss 
Coldstream,  has  continued  her  much  appreciated  and  fruitful 
labours  here,  writes  :  '  A  little  girl,  who  attends  regularly  the 
children's  meeting  at  BatignoUes,  has  given  clear  testimony  to 
having  understood  and  accepted  the  gospel  invitation.  Her 
mother,  formerly  a  Koman  Catholic,  was  also  much  impressed 


2  28  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

at  the  meetings,  became  an  earnest  inquirer,  and  during 
summer  openly  professed  her  faith  in  Christ.  She  now  par- 
takes of  the  communion  at  the  Chapelle,  Kue  Koyale,  where 
she  and  Angele  are  never  wanting  on  Sunday  morning. 
Eecently  they  went  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  grandmother  who 
lives  at  some  distance.  Before  leaving  Paris,  they  came  to 
^sk  us  to  point  out  some  suitable  passages  of  the  Bible  to  read 
to  the  aged  woman,  as  they  must  take  her  the  gospel  message. 
They  had  a  good  deal  of  opposition  to  bear,  but  it  has  failed 
to  shake  their  simple  faith  in  the  Saviour.' 

" '  A  Protestant  girl,  who  had  been  seeking  peace  for  long, 
was  brought  to  the  meeting  for  young  women  at  the  Faubourg 
St.  Antoine  ;  as  she  herself  says,  "  It  was  my  friend  who  told 
me  of  your  meeting,  but  it  was  God  who  led  me  there."  That 
very  night  she  got  the  message  of  peace,  and  went  away  rejoic- 
ing in  Christ.  In  letters  written  during  summer,  and  in  her 
own  frank  way,  she  has  given  bright  testimony  to  the  reality 
of  her  profession.  She  is  now  preparing  to  pass  her  examina- 
tions in  order  to  become  a  teacher.' 

" '  A  boy  of  seven,  who  had  come  several  times  to  the 
meetings,  said  one  day  to  his  mother,  "  Mother,  I  have  got  a 
pain  ;  I  think  it  must  be  my  sins,  but  when  they  are  forgiven 
I  think  I  shall  be  better.'" 

"  Our  excellent  and  most  efficient  coadjutor,  M.  Hannemann, 
went  to  England  in  spring,  for  the  purpose  of  study  and 
further  preparation  for  the  work  in  which  he  is  engaged,  and 
in  which  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  so  much  success. 
While  away,  he  received  many  letters  from  his  juvenile  friends 
in  Paris.  A  little  boy  wrote  to  tell  that  he  had  'built  his 
faith  upon  the  Eock  of  Ages  ;'  and  a  little  gii4,  in  another 
€omirmnication,  said  that  her  mother  and  she  had  both  come 
to  the  Saviour.  After  his  return  from  England,  a  little  boy 
running  across  the  street  to  embrace  him,  confided  in  a 
whisper,  '  Monsieur,  je  vous  aime  !'  To  children  and  babes, 
the  Bible  tells  us,  many  tilings  are  revealed  which  the  wise 


MiscellaneotLs :  Past  and  Present.      229 


and  prudent   know  not  ;    such   is   ol'ttimes  tlie  encouraging 
experience  of  those  who  work  among  the  young. 

"  There  is  one  nice-looking  lad  ol  seventeen  who  has  made 
himself  useful  to  us  in  many  ways  ;  he  sees  that  the  hall  is 
opened  and  heated  in  good  time,  helps  to  keep  order  ;  and  he 
may  often  be  seen  collecting  a  little  group  round  him  at  the 
end  of  a  children's  service  to  teach  them  a  verse.  He  is,  in 
fact,  a  great  ally  of  ours,  and  claims  the  proud  position  of 
doorkeeper  and  keeper-in-order-in- general  of  the  meeting  we 
personally  preside  at,  on  Sunday  evenings  ;  accompanying  us 
home  afterwards,  and  enlivening  us  with  a  full  and  particular 
account  of  himself  and  his  doings  during  the  walk.  We  shall 
narrate  one  of  his  adventures,  which  shows  how  anxious  he  is 
to  do  good,  and  which  is  interesting  in  itself.  A  poor  and  ignor- 
ant old  woman  attended  the  meeting  at  the  station  in  question. 
Although  she  had  often  heard  the  story  of  the  cross,  she  had 
never  taken  it  clearly  in.  Our  young  friend  made  acquaintance 
with  her.  She  fell  ill,  and  he  visited  her.  He  is  a  veteran  visitor 
of  old  women, — they  are  always  pleased  to  see  him,  and,  besides, 
they  are  good  listeners.  This  poor  old  woman,  knowing  that 
our  young  man  came  from  the  ^l^aXU  de  Conferences,'  seized 
the  opportunity,  and  began  to  confess  to  him  in  the  Catholic 
manner.  He  told  her  that  she  ought  to  confess  her  sins  to 
God  alone,  and  showed  it  her  from  his  Testament.  He  further 
told  her  that  she  ought  to  read  the  New  Testament,  and  lent 
her  one.  It  was  a  great  and  new  light  to  her  to  know  that 
she  might  confess  to  Christ, — to  be  assured  that  He  would 
hear  ;  and  hearing,  forgive.  Our  young  missionary  often  came 
and  read  to  her,  and  his  visits  were  valued.  It  became  evident 
that  she  was  dying  ;  she  had  now  finished  the  New  Testament, 
and  was  thirsting  to  read  the  Bible,  but  she  was  poor  and  had 
no  money,  and  he  had  very  little.  He  made  a  bargain,  how- 
ever, with  our  good  Bible-woman,  and  procured  a  large  print 
five-franc  Bible  at  half-price,  this  he  presented  to  her  ;  before 
she  had  time  to  read  it  through,  however,  she  departed  this 


230  The  White  Fields  of  France. 


life.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  tliat  she  knew  on  whom 
to  build  her  hopes  of  heaven,  as  she  had  learned,  in  such  an 
interesting  manner,  to  whom  to  confess  her  sins." 

These  are  busy  days  in  Paris ;  and  busy  nights 
no  less ;  busy  Sabbaths  and  busy  week-da3^s.  And 
yet  the  work  is  totally  unlike  what  we  find  any- 
where else  in  times  of  religious  awakening.  No 
vast  crowds  in  some  great  church  or  hall.  No 
orator,  like  Pere  Hyacinthe,  appealing  to  popular 
fervour,  or  leaning  for  success  on  the  multitudes 
that  hang  around  him.  No  "  city  in  an  uproar ;  " 
no  grand  watchword  to  rally  round ;  no  great  name 
to  overawe  opposition ;  no  ambitious  or  self-seeking 
enthusiasm  ;  none  of  these !  Humble  labourers,  not 
seeking  their  own,  but  the  things  that  are  Christ's ; 
hard-working,  painstaking,  persevering  volunteers, 
with  no  object  but  that  of  winning  souls  and  re- 
generating Paris ;  obscure  and  quiet  seed-sowers, 
not  hunting  for  applause  or  honour!  No  monks  or 
nuns  with  flaunting  dresses,  moving  through  the 
great  thoroughfares  to  proclaim  themselves  and  their 
good  deeds;  but  modest  strangers,  wishing  to  be 
unnoticed ;  carrying  the  Word  of  life  on  loving  lips 
or  with  gentle  hands  into  the  alleys  of  Les  Ternes 
or  the  dens  of  Chiffonville.  No  show,  no  procession, 
no  banquet,  no  fete  beyond  that  of  a  tea-party  or 
Christmas  gathering.      No  confessional,  nor  denun- 


Miscellaneous :  Pas  I  and  Present.     231 

elation  from  the  altar,  nor  compulsion,  nor  threat, 
nor  bribery ! 

The  tranquillity  of  the  work  is  that  which  so 
attracts  and  wins.  It  is  no  storm  that  has  broken 
upon  Paris;  it  is  the  dew  that  has  fallen  every- 
where; so  bright,  yet  so  silent.  It  is  no  fire  that 
is  raging  in  her  streets  ;  it  is  a  heavenly  fragrance 
that  is  filling  her  atmosphere ;  and  men  are  at  a 
loss  to  know  whence  or  how  it  has  come. 

'•  So  when  a  ship,  well  freighted  with  the  stores 
The  sun  matures  on  India's  spicy  shores. 
Has  dropp'd  her  anchor,  and  her  canvas  furled, 
In  some  safe  haven  of  our  Western  world, 
'Twere  vain  inquiry  to  what  port  she  went ; 
The  gale  informs  us,  laden  with  the  scent." 

One  remarkable  feature  in  the  work  is  that, 
though  it  is  carried  on  against  both  atheism  and 
Popery,  it  has  stirred  no  controversy,  and  is  con- 
ducted without  debate,  either  in  private  or  on  the 
platform.  There  has  been  hardly  any  "  contradicting 
and  blaspheming,"  such  as  befell  Paul  at  Antioch  : 
nor  even  any  "  daily  disputing,"  as  at  Ephesus,  ''  in 
the  school  of  one  Tyrannus."  The  clash  of  swords 
has  not  been  heard,  nor  even  the  sound  of  axes  or 
hammers.  Round  the  whole  circle  of  the  city  the 
Word  has  gone,  making  itself  everywhere  felt  by  its 
own  innate  vitality.     For  upwards  of  seven  years 


232  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

the  Gospel  has  been  preached  to  tens  of  thousands ; 
it  has  entered  streets,  lanes,  houses,  hearts ;  it  has 
planted  itself  side  by  side  with  the  cathedral,  the 
church,  the  theatre,  the  ball-room,  the  cafe,  the 
restaurant,  the  gambling-house,  the  billiard-room, 
and  places  lower  than  these  ;  yet  no  anger  has  been 
exhibited,  no  strife  has  been  roused,  except  of  a 
mere  temporary  kind.  The  messenger  goes  upon 
his  way,  and  "  the  faithful  saying  "  attracts  nightly 
crowds ;  yet  all  is  peace.  Perhaps  the  work  has  not  yet 
reached  the  stage  of  success  which  produces  exaspera- 
tion ;  perhaps  the  adversary  has  not  yet  found  a 
leader ;  perhaps  absorption  in  pleasure  and  contempt 
for  religious  men  makes  the  mass  of  Parisians  in- 

o 

different  to  any  such  pious  efforts,  for  "  the  earth 
helps  the  woman "  (Rev.  xii.  1 6) ;  perhaps  by  Mr. 
M'All's  wise  and  happy  management  human  passion 
has  been  kept  out  of  the  movement ;  perhaps  the 
great  truth  of  God's  free  love  to  the  sinner  has 
come  with  a  quieting  surprise,  a  soothing  influence 
to  a  people  living  upon  excitement,  and  hitherto 
appreciating  only  the  piquant,  the  startling,  and  the 
stormy ;  perhaps  the  truth  has  really  penetrated  far 
beyond  those  who  have  actually  come  forward  to 
own  its  sway,  and  unconsciously  leavened  large 
sections  of  a  population  who,  in  other  circumstances, 
would  have  been  the  first  to  rise  against  the  aggres- 


Miscellaneous:  Past  a7id Present.     233 


sion ;  perhaps  the  anti-clerical  feeling  of  the  people 
has  disposed  them  to  side  with  anything  that  they 
know  the  clergy  would  dislike  ;  perhaps  the  priest- 
hood has  been  so  completely  muzzled,  if  not  tamed, 
that  they  are  unable  to  do  anything  but  hate  or 
revile;  perhaps  there  are  some  of  these  priests 
secretly  alive  to  the  impotencies,  if  not  the  errors,  of 
their  own  system,  and  in  their  hearts  persuaded  that 
this  new  Gospel  is  the  last  remedy  for  used-up 
Paris,  if  not,  indeed,  the  very  Gospel  for  themselves ; 
perhaps,  too,  even  the  fierce  democracy  feels  that 
here,  in  this  strange  Gospel  of  love  and  liberty,  of 
Divine  and  human  fellowship,  the  meeting  of  earth 
and  heaven,  they  find  the  truest  and  highest  com- 
munism,— all  that  is  really  good  in  their  philosophy 
of  freedom  and  fraternity,  and  embodying  in  its  own 
simplicity  the  means  of  producing,  without  violence, 
an  equality  and  community,  far  beyond  and  far 
above  all  that  they  had  ever  dreamed  of;  perhaps 
the  absence  of  pomp  and  greatness,  the  homely 
halls,  the  humble  men,  the  soothing  hymns,  the 
cheerful  music,  all  contrasting  with  the  gorgeous 
theatricals  of  clericalism,  have  predisposed  the  multi- 
tude to  listen  and  believe  ;  perhaps  now  the  prayers 
of  two  centuries  of  glorious  martyrdom  are  beginning 
to  be  heard,  and  the  arm  of  the  Lord  is  stretched  out, 
on  the  one  hand,  to  draw  souls  out  of  darkness,  and 


234  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

on  the  other,  to  bridle  the  enemy,  and  give  the 
Gospel  not  only  a  free  but  a  peaceful  course  :  for 
thus  speaks  the  prophet,  '*  I  saw  four  angels  stand- 
ing on  the  four  corners  of  the  earth,  holding  the 
four  winds  of  the  earth,  that  the  wind  should  not 
blow  on  the  earth,  nor  on  the  sea,  nor  on  any  tree. 
.  .  .  Hurt  not  the  earth,  neither  the  sea,  nor  the 
trees,  till  we  have  sealed  the  servants  of  our  God 
in  their  foreheads"  (Rev.  vii.  1,  3). 

How  far  all  these  things  are  working  together  to 
help  the  present  Mission,  I  do  not  undertake  to  say. 
I  cannot  measure  the  influence  of  each,  nor  the 
combined  strength  of  all.  But  they  are  well  worthy 
of  notice  and  of  careful  study,  as  connected  not  only 
Avith  the  religious,  but  the  political  history  of 
France. 

For  France  has  hitherto  in  all  her  movements 
used  the  power  of  the  multitude,  both  in  their  anti- 
pathies and  sympathies.  It  was  of  the  mob  that  the 
first  emperor  was  the  idol ;  it  was  of  the  same  mob 
that  the  last  Bourbon  was  the  abhorrence.  It  was 
the  people  of  France  that  rose  against  the  Reforma- 
tion, and  shed  the  blood  of  saints  in  their  wild 
fury.  In  other  countries,  especially  Bohemia,  Italy, 
Spain,  and  Britain,  it  was  the  prince  and  the  priest 
that  drew  the  dagger  and  kindled  the  fire;  the 
common  people  pitied  and  were  silent.      In  France 


Miscella7teous :  Past  and  Present.     235 

it  was  as  much  the  multitude  that,  blind  with 
brutal  hatred  of  they  knew  not  what,  rushed  on,  at 
the  instigation  of  "  the  Church,"  to  the  slaughter  of 
the  flock  of  Christ. 

At  present  the  people  listen  well-pleased  to 
preachers  whom,  three  hundred  years  ago,  their 
forefathers  would  have  butchered.  There  is  some- 
thing most  notable  in  the  change.  Formerly  it  was 
the  Gospel  that  was  bound ;  now  it  is  the  priesthood; 
the  Gospel  is  free,  and  the  evangelist  is  welcomed. 

SECTION  IV. 
Lyons. 

When  Mr.  M'All  planted  his  first  station  in 
Belleville,  in  1872,  he  little  thought  "  whereunto 
this  would  grow." 

That  it  should  widen  and  oversioread  Paris  was 
not  likely;  at  least  for  many  a  day.  That  it  should 
go  beyond  Paris  and  penetrate  the  provinces  was 
still  less  likely.  At  least  there  was  no  prospect  of 
such  enlargements.  That  these  extensions  should 
be  invited  by  the  inhabitants  themselves,  and  that 
calls  for  help  should  come  from  districts,  both  in 
and  out  of  Paris,  where  no  efforts  had  previously 
been  put  forth,  and  no  preparations  made  : — these 
were  things  not  calculated  upon  in  a  land  where 
truth  had  been  trodden  dow^n  so  long  and  so  terribly. 


236  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

These,  however,  are  just  the  unlikelihoods  that 
the  Paris  Mission  has  to  record. 

"  I  sent  you  to  reap  that  whereon  ye  bestowed 
no  labour,"  is  often  enough  found  true ;  but  "  other 
men  laboured,  and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labours  " 
is  not  always  exemplified,  or,  at  least,  is  not  always 
traceable.  Yet,  possibly,  this  may  be  a  far  more 
invariable  and  constant  law  of  the  kingdom  than 
we  think.  History  may  not  be  able  to  tell  us  of 
the  previous  labourers  ;  but  they  may  have  been  in 
the  field,  and  done  their  work,  unknown  to  any  but 
the  great  Sower  Himself. 

At  any  rate,  it  would  be  hasty  to  say  of  France 
that  there  had  been  no  previous  sowing,  or  no  pre- 
paration of  soil,  because  we  have  not  been  able  to- 
discover  these.  "  One  soweth  and  another  reapeth  "■ 
is  one  of  the  Divine  principles  which  we  find  always 
operating  directly  or  indirectly ;  showing  itself  un- 
expectedly in  all  ages  ;  leading  those  who  believe  it 
into  researches  out  of  the  common  beat  to  find  out 
the  real  ancestry  of  great  movements ;  and  often 
rewarding  these  believing  searchers  with  rare  dis- 
coveries. And,  of  such  surprises,  all  history,  but 
especially  church  history,  is  full. 

To  inquire  into  the  verification  of  this  law  in 
France  is  not  my  object ;  but  I  do  not  doubt  that  the 
careful  researches  of  a  sympathetic  church  historian 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     237 

would  bring  many  things  to  light  in  illustration  of 

the  Divine  purpose  and  procedure,    in   connection 

with  that  simple  proverb,  quoted  above,  to  which  the 

Master  has  so  explicitly  set  His  seal.      Possibly  the 

history  of  Lyons,   even   more  than   that   of  Paris, 

would  be  found  to  exhibit  the  truth  and  constancy 

of  this  peculiar  law  ;  and  I  would  now  devote  a  few 

pages   to   Mr.  M'All's  work  in  that  city;   a  work 

which,  as  yet,  is  only  in  its  infancy.      It  was  begun 

in  October,  1878,  and  is  still  vigorously  carried  on. 

Lyons,  from  the  early  centuries  of  the  Christian 

Church,  has  been  pre-eminently  a  city  of  martyrs. 

But  never  did  persecution  rage  so  terribly  as  towards 

the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  at  the  time  of  the 

St.  Bartholomew  massacre.   The  cruelties  of  paganism 

were  quite  overshadowed  by  the  savage  brutalities 

of  Popery.      The  priesthood  and  the  instruments  of 

its  blind  and  bloody  rage  seemed  to  be  devils,  not 

men.      The  woes  of  Lyons  have  never  been  written ; 

nor,  indeed,  can  be ;  so  complete  was  the  havoc  which 

swept  away  its  best  and  bravest  and  holiest  in  the 

great  year  of  blood.    In  1572  the  streets  of  Lyons  ran 

red  with  Huguenot  blood,  shed  by  the  orders  of  the 

king.      The  Ehone  was  empurpled ;  its  course  was 

obstructed    by    corpses ;    the    fish   died ;     and  the 

stench   was   abominable.      At  the  lowest  estimate, 

1300  were  butchered,  men,  women,  and  children, 


238  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

in  tliat  one  city,  among  whom  was  the  musician 
Guadimel,  the  composer  of  the  tunes  to  the  psalms  of 
Marot  and  Beza.  Three  hundred  had  been  carried 
to  the  archbishop's  palace,  under  the  pretence  of 
protection,  and  there  they  were  murdered.  "  The 
heretics,  writes  their  murderer  Mandelot,  were  taken 
calmly  and  quietly,  one  by  one,  like  so  many  cattle ; 
it  was  a  wonderful  spectacle  to  see  the  greater  part 
of  them,  lying  with  their  throats  cut  in  the  piazza, 
naked  as  the  beasts  ;  in  less  than  two  days  not  a  soul 
remained  alive,  not  a  single  individual  could  save 
himself'""- 

Since  then  there  has  been  always  a  remnant  of 
true  Christians  in  the  city ;  but  it  has  been  small. 
Faith  has  all  but  died  out ;  and  the  town  is  divided 
between  atheism  and  ultramontanism  :  the  former 
predominating  and  manifesting  itself  in  revolution 
and  violence. 

To  this  city  Mr.  M'AU  was  invited  about  a  year 
ago ;  and  at  last,  towards  the  end  of  autumn,  he 
went  to  organise  a  similar  work  to  that  in  Paris. 
In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  he  succeeded  in  start- 
ing four  stations.  Returning  to  Paris,  he  was 
followed  by  Mr.  Dodds  for  two  months ;  on  whose 
return  to  the  metropolis,  Mr.  Horace  Noel  took  up 
the  work ;   the  French  pastors  heartily  co-operating. 

*  Smedley's  "Reformed  Religion  in  France,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  33. 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.      239 

Mr.  M* All's  narrative  of  this  undertaking  is  brief; 
too  brief.      We  wish  it  had  been  more  minnte  : — 

"  Our  long-clierished  project  of  founding  a  work  like  that  of 
Paris  in  Lyons,  with  its  350,000  inhabitants,  is  at  length 
realised.  Occasional  expressions  of  desire  that  we  should  make 
the  attempt  had  reached  us  from  Christians  in  Lyons  itself^ 
and  more  recently,  the  Committee  of  the  Evangelical  Con- 
tinental Society  has  encouraged  us  by  the  offer  of  a  handsome 
grant  towards  preliminary  expenses. 

"  Believing  that  the  right  moment  had  arrived,  three  of  our 
number  set  forth  on  this  interesting  errand  in  the  beginning 
of  November.  Our  excellent  coadjutor,  M.  Eouilly,  preceded 
us  as  pioneer.  It  is  well  known  that  in  Lyons,  often  styled 
the  Rome  of  France,  ultramontane  intolerance  reigns  side  by 
side  with  scepticism  and  atheism  in  all  their  dark  forms.  In 
spite  of  difficulties  thence  arising,  we  were  enabled  within  a 
few  days  to  open  three  stations,  and  a  fourth  has  since  been 
added.  The  four  rooms  contain  over  600  sittings.  They  are 
in  the  midst  of  densely-peopled  working-class  districts — La 
Guillotiere,  La  Croix  Rousse,  Les  Brotteaux,  and  Vaise. 

"  Through  the  intervention  of  the  British  Vice-Consul  and 
the  Prefect  of  the  Rhone,  the  needful  authorisation  was  at  once 
accorded  by  the  Minister  of  the  Interior.  The  first  meeting 
was  held  on  Sunday  evening,  Nov.  17,  at  La  Guillotiere,  a 
quarter  possessing  an  unenviable  celebrity  for  revolutionary 
lawlessness.  It  was  an  hour  not  to  be  forgotten.  With  what 
feelings  of  mingled  thankfulness  and  responsibility  did  we  see 
the  people  gather  round  us  in  that  humble  room  !  A  deputa- 
tion from  the  Lyons  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  aided 
us  much  at  the  door,  in  singing,  &c.  The  presence  of  Him 
whose  message  of  love  we  had  come  to  announce  was  felt 
among  us.  At  the  close,  many  warmly  expressed  their  grati- 
tude for  our  having  come  to  them.  One  ouvrier,  in  particular, 
said,  with  tears,  *  Never  in  my  life  have  I  heard  the  truth 


240         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

tlius  explained  ;  my  conscience  answers  to  it  ;  this  is  what  I 
want.' 

"  The  excellent  im&Unrs  of  Lyons  snrroiindecl  us,  and  spoke 
to  the  people  with  great  earnestness  and  power.  M.  Ruben 
Saillens,  our  former  helper  (now  of  Marseilles),  also  aided  us 
in  these  opening  services.  The  affectionate  welcome  accorded 
to  \is  alike  by  pastors  and  laymen  was  deeply  touching,  and 
they  are  prepared  to  render  constant  assistance  in  carrying  out 
the  meetings.  It  will,  however,  be  necessary  to  secure  the 
residence  of  a  permanent  director  for  the  branch  mission.  We 
have  addressed  a  pressing  appeal,  seconded  by  our  Lyons 
friends,  to  a  gentleman  in  Switzerland,  eminently  qualified  for 
the  position,  and  we  trust  that  ere  this  report  issues  from  the 
press,  his  consent  will  be  obtained.  Meanwhile,  our  valued 
friend,  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Ashton,  and  our  colleague,  the  Rev.  G. 
T.  Dodds,  have  rendered  essential  service  in  taking  temporarily 
the  management.  Our  faithful  coadjutor,  the  Rev.  Horace 
Noel,  is  prepared  to  succeed  Mr.  Dodds  for  a  time.  Most 
]Drobably  the  director  will  need  the  stated  aid  of  at  least  one 
young  evangelist,  as  those  on  the  spot  who  can  give  their  help 
are  not  numerous.  The  sustentation  of  this  assistant,  with  the 
rental  and  maintenance  of  so  many  new  mission-rooms,  &c. 
&c.,  will  require  largely-increased  contributions. 

"The  meetings  at  Lyons  have,  thus  far,  been  very  fully 
attended,  and  various  significant  incidents  have  occurred.  At 
La  Guilloti^re,  an  ouvrier,  stoker  of  a  furnace,  who  had  come, 
at  first,  with  black  face,  appeared  afterwards  clean  and  in  his 
best  clothes.  He  said,  '  It  is  now  my  delight,  while  watching 
my  furnace,  to  think  over  what  I  have  heard  in  the  meetings.' 
One  of  the  policemen  in  attendance  to  keep  order  in  the  street, 
said,  '  I  much  j)refer  to  be  placed  here  rather  than  at  the  door 
of  the  theatre  :  here,  all  is  quietness  and  order,  there,  all  is 
noise  and  folly.  I  can  hear  enough  from  outside  to  know  that 
what  you  speak  is  the  true  religion  ;  I  must  bring  my  old 
woman  [meaning  his  wife]  that  slie  may  hear  it  too.'    On  other 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     241 

occasions,  the  policemen  liave  recommended  tlie  bystanders  to 
enter,  explaining  the  meaning  of  '  morale '  and  '  V amour  de 
Jesus- Christ,''  on  our  little  papers  of  invitation." 

A  little  further  on  in  the  same  report,  Mr.  Dodds 
gives  some  incidents  of  the  work  which  took  place 
under  his  own  eye  : — 

"The  following  is  a  literal  translation  of  the  exact  words 
spoken  bj'-  a  stoker  (or  furnace-blower),  on  occasion  of  the  first 
meeting  at  Lyons: — 'I  knew  always  that  there  is  something 
here  [laying  his  hand  on  his  heart]  which  cannot  die,  but 
never  before  had  this  been  so  well  explained  to  me  ;  I  shall 
think  of  it  during  the  week,  and  that  will  help  me  to  heat  my 
furnace.'  He  came  the  next  meeting-night  with  clean  face, 
and  is  a  regular  and  most  interested  attendant. 

"A  man  on  his  way  to  a  newly-opened  theatre  close  by 

stepped  into  our  room  at .     He  remained  the  whole  time. 

This  occurs  frequently. 

"  At  the  door  of ,  a  man  said,  '  Ah,  if  what  we  have 

heard  this  evening  were  believed  and  practised,  there  would 
be  peace  and  happiness  here.' 

"  The  pohceman  at  the  door  at  ,  reported  that  there 

was  already  a  marked  improvement  in  the  quarter  ;  the  people, 
he  said,  were  quieter. 

"  At ,  a  freethinker  has  come  since  the  opening.     He 

used  to  say  that  his  philosophy  was '  quite  sufiicient  for  him  ; 
now  he  confesses  that  something  more  is  needed,  has  begun  to 
read  the  Bible  and  also  to  attend  a  place  of  worship. 

"  Another  young  man,  previously  almost  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  Bible,  has  been  led  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, and  is  seeking  to  possess  a  complete  copy  of  the  Scriptures. 

"  One  of  the  hearers  at speaks  of  the  great  light  which 

has  entered  into  her  soul.  Here  are  her  words, — '  How  happy 
one  ia  when  possessing  the  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.' " 

R 


242  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

Of  the  Lyons  work  M.  St.  Hilaire  thus  writes  his 
impressions  to  Mr.  M'All ;  and  the  statements  of  the 
venerable  and  illustrious  Professor  are  of  great  import- 
ance as  conveying  a  Frenchman's  impressions  of  the 
value  of  the  work  in  a  city  which  he  knows  so  well : — 

"  Eespecting  your  enterprise  at  Lyons,  yet  in  its  infiancy,  your 
report  also  tells  us  something,  perhaps  rather  too  briefly,  and 
I  would  congratulate  you  on  having  added  to  your  Paris  work 
this  new  field  of  effort.  For  years  it  was  my  habitude  to  spend 
my  vacations  at  Lyons,  and  it  was  in  the  dear  Chajpelle  Evan- 
gdique  in  the  Bue  Lanterne,  and  by  means  of  its  then  pastor, 
Mr.  Fisch,  that  I  was  led  to  the  Gospel.  I  am  entitled,  then, 
to  call  the  good  town  of  Lyons  my  spiritual  native  country. 
One  thing  I  can  say  to  you  with  certitude, — that  nowhere 
could  there  be  found  a  race  more  receptive,  more  religiously 
susceptible  than  the  people  of  the  Lyonnais.  Too  long  held 
down  under  the  ultramontane  yoke,  this  yoke  commences  to 
gall  them  ;  but  at  Lyons,  as  throughout  the  entire  Catholic 
world,  there  is  only  one  door  by  which  to  emerge  from  it, 
that  of  infidelity.  You,  dear  brother,  have  indicated  to  them 
another,  and  I  thank  you  for  it  in  the  name  of  all  the 
Christians  of  Lyons,  who  will  rejoice  to  aid  you  in  your  work. 

"  And  now,  dear  and  respected  brother,  let  me  express  to  you 
my  joy  to  see  extending  to  some  of  our  largest  cities,  first  to 
Lyons,  to  Marseille,  Bordeaux,  &c.,  the  blessings  of  this 
work  of  regeneration  by  the  Gospel,  restricted  hitherto  to  our 
capital.  As  for  politics,  arts,  literature,  luxury,  pleasure,  Paris 
has  become  the  focus  of  them  all ;  but  the  Gospel  has  its 
citizen-rights  everywhere,  for  it  belongs  to  no  country  exclu- 
sively, or,  if  it  has  one,  it  is  heaven !  For  whom  has  it  been 
given  above  all  1 — for  the  poor,  the  obscure,  the  disinherited 
of  the  earth.  Among  them  it  was  that  Jesus  commenced  His 
mission.     He  spoke  their  language  in  those  ravishing  parables 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     243 

which  the  people  instinctively  understands  not  so  much  by 
the  intellect  as  by  the  heart.  May,  then,  the  Angel  of  the 
Apocalypse,  *  carrying  in  His  hands  the  everlasting  Gospel,' 
pass,  at  length,  throughout  our  beloved  France,  visiting  not 
the  cities  only,  but  our  humblest  hamlets  !  " 

A  few  extracts  from  private  letters  will  not  be 
unacceptable.  Perhaps,  though  brief,  they  may 
prove  even  more  interesting  than  the  published 
report.  One  Christian  friend,  writing  to  another 
regarding  a  matter  in  which  the  hearts  of  both  are 
warmly  engaged,  notes  down  little  things  which 
would  otherwise  be  forgotten,  and  gives  views  of 
the  work  which  he  might  not  think  of  giving  in  a 
report. 

Mr.  M'All  thus  gives  his  own  first  impressions 

of  the   new   enterprise,    in   a   letter   dated   Lyons, 

15th  November,  1878  : — 

"  Knowing  your  warm  interest  in  our  enterprise  in  Lyons, 
I  am  anxious  to  let  you  know  something  of  our  first  steps 
towards  obtaining  centres  of  meeting  in  this  great  city.  You 
can  well  understand  that  the  first  steps  in  such  a  case  are  very 
arduous  ;  and  we  have  had  many  journeyings  to  and  fro-  in 
rain  and  mist  and  mud,  seeking  localities  in  the  various 
working-class  quarters.  You  are  aware  that  Lyons  is  often 
styled  the  '■  Kome '  of  France,  and  that,  while  infidelity  has  a 
widespread  hold  upon  a  large  part  of  the  population,  intoler- 
ance reigns  supreme  with  the  residue,  including  a  very  large 
majority  of  the  wealthy  and  influential.  Hence  localities  in 
the  central  parts  of  the  town  were,  in  general,  refused  to  us  ; 
but  we  have  found  a  different  disposition  in  the  faubourgs, 
and  there  have  been  willingly  received  as  tenants.     We  have 


244  ^^^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

now  four  populous  localities  among  tlie  ouvriers  in  view, — La 
Guillotiere,  Les  Brotteaux,  La  Croix  Rousse,  and  Vaise.  Pray 
that  blessing  may  attend  the  planting  of  Christ's  standard  in 
the  heart  of  these  teeming  populations.  To-day  the  authorisa- 
tion has  reached  us  from  the  Minist^re  de  I'lnt^rieur  at  Paris. 
"We  are  most  kindly  and  warmly  welcomed  by  the  pastors  and 
evangelical  Cliristians  here,  as  well  as  by  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Society,  who  gave  us  a  little  soiree  this  week,  and, 
with  one  accord,  promised  their  hearty  co-operation.  The 
popish  bigotry  here  is  beyond  expression.  Many  of  the  land- 
lords, themselves  indifferent  to  all  religion,  dare  not  let  their 
places  to  us  for  fear  of  their  neighbours  ;  and  large  employers 
are,  we  learn,  forbidding  their  workmen  to  enter  a  Protestant 
place  of  worship.  We  must  be  careful  to  avoid  controversy, 
and  go  to  the  people  with  the  pure  and  direct  utterances  of 
the  life-giving  Gospel." 

Mr.  Dodds,  who  succeeded  Mr.  M'All  at  these 
stations,  and  carried  on  the  work  for  two  months, 
thus  writes  from  Lyons  in  December,  1878  : — 

"  Already  there  are  signs  of  hfe  here  ;  and  some  have  been 
deeply  touched  in  the  meetings.  At  one,  a  furnace-blower 
turned  up  with  a  very  black  face ;  next  night  he  came  washed 
and  clean,  and  said  to  one  of  the  speakers,  '  This  is  the  truth  ; 
I  feel  something  here  [touching  his  heart]  which  tells  me  so  ; 
and  all  the  day,  as  I  blow  my  furnace,  and  poke  the  fire,  I  am 
thinking  of  these  things.'  It  was  a  strange  feeling  that  I  ex- 
perienced on  Sunday  evening  at  Vaise,  when  I  spoke  to  the 
people.  I  felt  that  the  well-known  words,  '  Come  unto  me,  all 
ye  that  labour,'  and  'God  so  loved  the  world,'  &c.,  were  being 
lieard  for  the  first  time  by  many,  if  not  by  all.  How  fresh 
were  these  words,  how  real  and  deep  ;  and  how  truly  I  felt  that 
they  were  spoken  for  man.  We  have  crowded  meetings,  and 
attentive  listeners." 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.      245 

And  again  in  3rd  January,  1879  : — 

"  It  has  been  a  keen  pleasure  to  me  here  to  break  up  the 
ground  ;  perhaps  even  more  so  than  at  Paris,  the  work  has 
been  distinctively  one  of  evangelisation.  The  people  seem  ex- 
tremely ignorant,  and  the  Gospel  is  new  altogether  to  them. 
Wlien  St.  Paul's  words  are  thought  to  be  Plato's,  and  the 
ordinary  meanings  of  Bible  words  are  not  even  imagined,  one 
could  hardly  have  a  field  more  unprepared,  except  that  that  in 
itself  is  a  preparation.  I  was  at  Vaise  last  night.  The  meeting 
was  crowded,  people  pressing  as  close  to  me  at  the  desk  as  was 
possible  or  quite  conducive  to  bodily  comfort.  I  have  had  a 
good  deal  of  trouble  there  in  the  earlier  meetings,  there  have 
been  noise  and  shouting,  and  occasionally  the  necessity  to  expel 
some  young  men.  Two  gardiens  are  stationed  at  the  door. 
Last  night  there  was  no  noise,  but  most  earnest  attention, 

while  M.  L spoke  on  Paul's  Neiv-  Yearns  wish  for  them  : 

'  My  heart's  desire  is  that  you  may  be  saved.'  He  might  have 
gone  on  much  longer  as  far  as  attention  was  concerned  ;  but  I 
like  to  have  plenty  of  singing  ;  and  we  had  '  Tell  me  the  old, 
old  Story'  and  'Look  and  Live'  and  'Safe  in  the  arms  of 
Jesus.'  They  are  fond  of  the  hymns,  and  join  with  all  their 
heart,  though  there  is  sometimes  more  sound  than  melody. 
Afterwards  I  spoke  to  them  of  Paul's  conversion,  dwelling  on 
the  difference  between  a  sinner  unsaved  and  a  sinner  pardoned. 
I  read  to  them  from  2  Cor.  xi.,  the  list  of  Paul's  sufferings,  to 
show  them  what  a  change  there  was  in  that  man,  and  what  he 
had  willingly  endured  for  Christ's  sake,  and  to  convert  men  to 
God.  We  have  had  much  encouragement  at  Vaise.  A  man 
with  visage  black  as  coal  kindly  collects  the  hymn-books  for 
me  at  the  end.  He  appears  to  be  deeply  interested.  A  woman 
comes  steadily,  who  listens  with  tears  in  her  eyes.  She  is  in 
the  employ  of  some  Jesuits,  and  persists  in  coming  in  spite  of 
their  efforts  to  prevent  her.  The  other  evening  she  said,  '  Oh  ! 
how  happy  one  is  when  possessing  the  Saviour  ! '    Now,  there 


246  The  White  Fields  of  Fra7Lce. 

are  oftener  smiles  than  tears  on  her  face.  The  policemen  at  the 
door  tell  me  that  there  is  quite  a  change  already  in  the  quarter. 
Some  might  doubt  the  truth  of  this,  in  so  short  a  time,  but  they 
spoke  from  what  they  had  experienced.  They  would  do  any- 
thing to  help  us,  and  are  glad  to  come  into  the  room  and  listen 
when  they  can. 

"  At  the  reunion  of  Les  Brotteaux  we  have  more  mixture  of 
classes,  people  of  better  position  attending.     The  room  holds 

165,  and  is  sometimes  inconveniently  filled.     M.  P tells 

me  of  an  infidel  who  used  to  boast  that  his  philosophy  was 
enough  for  him,  a  very  intelligent  man  ;  he  began  to  come  at 

the  opening,  and  is  never  absent.     He  asked  M.  P to 

marry  him,  accepted  a  Bible  with  thankfulness,  and  now  not 
only  brings  his  wife,  but  often  several  friends  with  him.  I 
trust  his  heart  is  touched,  and  that  he  may  be  yet  made  a 
Christian  helper  at  Lyons,  for  we  need  such  greatly.  He  tells 
me  also  of  a  young  man  who  never  went  to  church,  and  had  a 
habit  of  swearing  whenever  he  opened  his  lips.     Now  he  never 

misses  an  evening,  and,  strange  to  say,  his  sister  tells  M.  P 

that  he  has  completely  given  up  his  bad  habit.  By  attending  at 
this  meeting,  a  young  Koman  Catholic  has  been  led  to  come  to 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  There  are  some  fine 
young  men  in  that  union ;  they  are  distributed  among  our 
meetings,  to  stand  at  the  door  and  be  otherwise  helpful.    .    ,    . 

"  I  want  you  to  engage  praying  friends  at  home  in  special 
prayer  for  the  pastors  and  teachers  of  France." 

The  work  now  going  on  in  Lyons  will  lead  many 
back  to  the  earlier  days  of  the  Church  in  that  city. 
The  history  of  the  Christian  Church  in  Lyons 
remains  yet  to  be  written,  and  would  form  one  of 
the  most  romantic  narratives, — one  of  the  most 
wonderful   "monographs"    that   could    be   written. 


Miscellaiuous :  Past  and  Present,     247 

We  do  not  know  any  other  city  in  the  world  which 
furnishes  such  successions  of  the  rise  and  fall, — yet 
the  fall  and  rise  also, — of  Christian  truth  and  life, — 
such  a  story  of  martyrdom  from  the  second  century 
to  the  present  day.'"  And  before  closing  the  present 
sketch  of  the  present  work,  we  make  the  following 
extract  from  a  little-known  work  entitled  "  The 
Progress  of  the  Reformation  on  the  Continent,"  and 
published  some  forty-two  years  ago  by  the  Rev. 
J.  Hartley,  British  Chaplain  at  Geneva  and  Tours. 
The  story  ought  not  to  be  forgotten  in  connec- 
tion with  Lyons,  and  with  the  beloved  Adolphe 
Monod  : — 

"  I  have  myself  visited  no  Church  in  France,  on  which  so 
evident  a  blessing  appeared  to  rest,  as  that  of  Mons.  Adolphe 
Monod  at  Lyons.  This  zealous  minister  of  Christ  had  been 
excluded  from  the  National  Protestant  Church  of  that  city,  in 
consequence  of  the  Arian  and  worldly  principles  which  had 
infected  it ;  but,  as  is  so  frequently  the  case,  persecution  promoted 
rather  than  retarded  the  progress  of  the  Gospel.  Mons.  Monod 
opened  a  second  Protestant  Church  at  Lyons,  and  when  I 
visited  it  in  1834, 1  found  the  place  of  public  assembly  crowded 
to  excess,  and  one  hundred  and  ten  persons,  all  of  them  consist- 

*  Several  of  the  provincial  towns  in  France  have  memories  like 
those  of  Lyons,  though  not  so  old  ;  Tours  and  Amboise,  for  instance. 
At  the  latter  of  these  places,  shortly  before  the  Bartholomew  massacre, 
1200  Protestants  were  put  to  death, — either  hanged  or  flung  into  the 
Loire.  The  terrace  is  still  pointed  out  where  the  king,  with  the  Guises 
and  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  gazed  with  delight  upon  the  butchery  of 
1200  Protestants. 


248  The  White  Fields  of  Finance, 

ent  Christian  communicants.  One-lialf  of  the  latter  were  con- 
verts from  the  Church  of  Eome. 

"  As  instances  of  individual  conversion  are  always  interest- 
ing, and  tend  to  afford  a  better  idea  of  the  state  of  religion  in 
any  country,  I  shall  conclude  this  chapter  by  a  narrative  of 
the  kind,  related  to  me  by  the  very  person  to  whom  it  occurred. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  considerable  influence  in  one  of  the  de- 
partments of  France,  being  connected  by  marriage  with  the 
family  of  one  of  Napoleon's  Field  Marshals,  and  having  been 
member  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies. 

"  Travelling  in  the  Vosges  Mountains,  he  lost  his  way.  He 
descended  from  his  carriage,  and  entered  into  a  house  to  make 
inquiries.  How  little  do  we  know,  what  important,  what 
eternal  consequence  may  follow,  from  events  which  appear  to 
us  altogether  accidental  and  trifling  !  The  house  which  Mons. 
had  entered  Avas  the  dwelling  of  the  pastor  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Oberlin  at  the  Ban  de  la  Roche  ;  and  he  appears  to  be 
one  who  has  inherited  not  merely  the  office,  but  also  the  piety 
of  his  revered  predecessor.  This  good  man,  with  all  the  zeal 
and  earnestness  which  has  distinguished  so  many  of  our  French 

brethren,  instantly  addressed  Mons. on  the  high  interests 

of    eternity,    charging    him   most   faithfully    to    give    them 

his    serious    and    immediate    attention.      Mons.     waa 

thunderstruck  ;  never  in  his  life  had  he  met  with  such  an 
occurrence.  Born  and  educated  amidst  the  fury  of  the  French 
Revolution,  religion  had  been  a  subject  of  all  others  most 
unthought  of  by  him,  most  unknown,  most  neglected.  Such 
however  was  the  impression  produced  by  the  worthy  pastor's 
exhortation,  that  no  sooner  had  he  returned  to  his  home  than 
he  instantly  sent  to  procure  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
town  adjacent  to  his  residence.  Failing  to  procure  one  here, 
he  sent  to  Paris  and  obtained  one  from  thence.  Now  he  com- 
menced to  study  the  sacred  volume  with  diligence.  He  called 
on  the  Protestant  pastor  who  was  nearest  to  him.  But  here, 
alas  !  was  one  of  the  rationalist  school,  who  advised  him  not 


Miscellaneous  :  Past  and  Present.     249 

to  tliink  of  quitting  tlie  Cliiirch  of  Eome,  and  wlio  gave  liim 
to  understand  that  evangelical  doctrines  were  nothing  but 
Methodism  and  folly !  Mons.  ,  however,  was  too  deeply- 
affected  by  the  realities  of  the  eternal  future,  to  be  checked 
by  such  awful  delusion  in  his  search  of  immortality.  He 
called  shortly  afterwards  at  Lyons  on  Mons.  Monod,  and  by  the 
Divine  blessing  on  their  intercourse  soon  became  enlightened 
on  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  is  now,  with  his  Lady, 
a  bold  and  zealous  follower  of  Jesus  Christ,  devoting  his  time, 
his  influence,  and  all  his  powers  to  the  cause  and  glory  of  that 
Saviour  who  has  revealed  to  him  so  graciously  His  Divine 
power  and  mercy ! " 

Thus  both  the  past  and  present  of  France  are 
full  of  a  spiritual  interest,  of  which  few  in  our 
day  are  aware.  There  is  "no  dearth  nor  barren 
land "  in  its  history,  were  it  searched  into  and 
read  aright.  Dr.  Merle  D'Aubigne  has  done  not 
a  little  in  this  romantic  field.  But  much  more 
remains  to  be  done.  The  religious  annals  of  that 
land  must  be  written  for  the  benefit  of  Europe. 
"Eldest  daughter"  of  Kome  she  has  been;  and, 
"  like  mother  like  daughter,"  may  be  said  of  her ; 
"  she- wolf  of  France,"  as  the  old  poet  calls  her, 
twin-sister  to  the  ravening  wolf  of  Kome,  she  has 
drunk  the  blood  of  saints  without  number.  But 
never,  like  Asia  Minor  or  like  Africa,  or  even  like 
Spain,  has  she  been  left  without  a  remnant  in  her 
hills  and  valleys.  The  priesthood  of  the  Pope  ravaged 
the  fold  of  Christ,  but,  age  after  age,  among  her  people, 


250  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

flocks  were  gathered,  and  fed  in  deserts  and  valleys, 
in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth. 

Christians  have  taken  their  idea  of  France  from 
the  Revolution  of  the  last  century.  They  have 
forgotten,  or  have  never  read,  all  that  went  before ; 
and  they  have  looked  upon  that  era  of  human  rage 
as  stamping  her  national  character  and  sealing  her 
doom.  They  forget  that,  revolting  as  the  deeds 
were,  the  priesthood  had  well  earned  their  share  of 
awful  retribution ;  and  they  forget  also  that  in  the 
mysterious  providence  of  God,  that  atheistic  outburst 
arrested  the  persecutions  against  Protestants,  and 
put  an  end  to  the  horrid  cruelties  perpetrated  by 
Roman  murderers, — to  whom  the  rack,  the  wheel, 
the  dungeon,  the  rope,  the  sword,  were  the  daily 
instruments  for  the  conversion  of  heretics.  Those 
who  have  read  Bungener's  agonising  but  stirring 
story  of  these  times,  called  "■  The  Jesuits  in  France," 
will  understand  what  we  mean.  The  atheists  of 
France  cried  shame  upon  the  deeds  of  the  priest- 
hood, and  protested  against  the  torture  of  Protest- 
ants. The  unbelieving  philosopher  had  more  of 
humanity  than  the  priest  or  the  bishop. 

Good  men  also  forget  that  God  has  always  had  a 
people  in  that  land  ;  and  that,  in  studying  its  annals, 
even  in  its  worst  days,  we  are  sure  to  light  upon,  here 
and  there,  some  remnants  of  faith,  however  small  and 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Prese7it.      25  i 

feeble.  A  German  pastor,  some  forty  years  ago, 
after  darkly  picturing  the  condition  of  Ins  country, 
— its  irreligion,  unbelief,  and  blasphemy, — yet  adds, 
that  here  and  there  he  had  come  upon  bright  speci- 
mens of  faith  where  he  least  expected  it,  summing 
up  with  this  beautiful  illustration  :  "  When  I  walk 
through  my  parish  I  seem  to  pass  through  the  shaft 
of  a  rich  mine,  where  a  stroke  of  the  mattock  on 
the  right  or  left  may  every  moment  discover  to  me 
a  new  vein  of  precious  metal." 

Perhaps,  in  reference  to  the  present  condition  of 
France,  this  quotation  may  convey  an  exaggerated 
picture.  But  as  to  the  past,  I  think  it  does  not. 
The  more  the  old  annals  are  searched,  the  more 
will  the  truth  of  it  be  confirmed;  and  I  am  not 
unwilling  to  believe  that  even  in  regard  to  the 
present  century  it  may  to  a  certain  extent  be  true. 
The  sudden  uprise  of  inquiry  everywhere,  and  the 
eager  thirst  for  some  better  religion  than  has  hitherto 
been  given  to  the  nation,  indicate  the  hidden  exist- 
ence of  a  state  of  feeling  which,  if  not  directly 
religious,  is  certainly  a  groping  after  faith,  and  a 
dissatisfaction  with  unbelief  and  superstition.  It  is 
something  for  evangelists  to  work  upon ;  it  is  some- 
thing to  cheer  and  stimulate  all  Christian  men  in 
their  efforts  to  send  the  Bible  abroad,  and  to  make 
known   the   grace   of   the   cross,   not    only   to   the 


252  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

ouvriers  of  the  cities,  but  to  the  peasantry  of  the 
provinces/'^ 

At  the  risk  of  almost  unduly  prolonging  our 
Lyons  narrative,  we  feel  constrained  to  give  the 
following  interesting  and  remarkable  letter  from  a 
Swiss  professor;  all  the  more  because  it  contains 
some  peculiar  remarks  on  the  English  strangers 
who  venture  to  intrude  their  barbarous  tongue  upon 
a  French  audience,  and  specially  on  the  refined 
ouvriers  of  Lyons,  who  showed  their  appreciation  of 
the  beauties  of  their  own  dialect  in  rather  a  noisy 
way.  The  scene  so  graphically  described  may  be 
a  warning  to  us  Northern  barbarians  not  to  force 
ourselves  on  such  an  audience,  and  a  hint  also  to 
the  conductors  of  these  reunions  not  to  ask  us  thus 
to  expose  the  uncouth  ruggedness  of  our  island 
accents  before  the  civilised  world.  Our  Swiss 
critic  should  remember  that  we  are,  what  we  have 
always  been,  since  the  days  of  Virgil, — 

*  Both  Mr.  M'All  and  Mr.  Dodds  have  returned  to  their  work 
in  Paris,  but  the  Lyons  Mission  is  now  efficiently  carried  on  by  M. 
Bernard  de  Watteville,  in  association  with  the  Protestant  pastors. 
This  gentleman  was  formerly  a  banker  in  Berne,  and  became  a 
pastor  of  the  Free  Church  {Eglise  Libre)  of  Neuchatel,  having  studied 
under  Professor  Godet.  After  six  months'  residence  at  Lyons,  he- 
has  consented  to  become  director  of  the  Lyons  branch.  He  is  a 
man  of  prayer,  and  a  devoted  missionary,  having  given  up  good 
worldly  prospects,  and,  along  with  his  wife,  giving  himself  up  to- 
Christian  work.     He  receives  no  salary  from  the  Mission. 


Miscellaiieoits :  Past  and  Present.      253 

"  Penitus  toto  divisi  orbe  Britanni." 
Oivilisation  has  gone  past  us,  away  to  the  polished 
South ;  and  we  really  cannot  help  our  unrounded 
accents.  Our  language  is  doubtless  a  relic  of  the 
Middle  Ages.  We  must  not  boast  of  it,  yet  it  has 
done  good  service  to  the  world  : — 

"  Neuchatel,  \^ik  April,  1879. 

"  Having  come  home  from  Lyons,  where  I  have  just  passed  a 
fortnight,  I  hasten  to  fulfil  my  promise,  and  send  you  an 
iiccount  of  the  Mission  to  the  "Workmen  of  Lyons,  which  Mr. 
M'All  began  about  four  or  five  months  ago,  and  which  he  very 
recently  entrusted  to  our  friend  M.  de  Watteville.  Ordained 
as  minister  of  the  Holy  Gospel  in  October,  1878,  at  La  Chaux- 
de-Fonds,  M.  de  Watteville  did  not  hesitate  to  respond  to  Mr. 
M'AU's  appeal,  in  which  he  saw  a  call  from  God,  and  he  has 
•occupied  his  post  since  the  31st  of  January. 

"  Four  stations  are  at  present  open  and  already  going  on 
with  entire  success.  These  are  Vaise,  La  Guillotiere,  La  Croix 
Bousse,  and  Les  Brotteaux.  The  quarter  of  Les  Brotteaux  is 
largely  inhabited  by  Protestants,  and  the  people  who  come  to 
this  station,  the  district  being  inhabited  largely  by  Protestants, 
present  a  more  cultivated  aspect,  and  are  less  strangers  to  our 
way  of  working.  The  first  three  stations  are  situated  in  districts 
inhabited  by  ouvriers,  more  or  less  famed  for  insubordination 
and  their  degraded  life.  At  La  Guillotiere  it  is  not  safe 
to  walk  about  after  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  as  a  pastor  of 
the  city  said  to  me.  La  Croix  Rousse  is  the  Belleville  of 
Lyons,  the  centre  of  revolution  and  atheism.  It  is  the  '  mount- 
ain of  work '  (montagne  du  travail),  the  '  city  of  the  future ' 
(cit6  de  I'avenir),  which  Michelet  opposes  in  one  of  his  works 
to  the  steep  and  rocky  Fourv^i^re,  which  faces  it,  and  which  is 
indeed  the  '  citadel  of  ultramontanism  and  of  the  past.'  This 
antithesis  well  expresses  the  moral  and  religious  state  of  the 


2  54  ^^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

second  town  in  France.  Clericalism  and  ultramontanism 
among  the  privileged  classes  ;  horror  of  all  authority,  social  and 
religious,  among  the  others,  and  no  middle  class  between  these 
two,  if  it  he  not  the  Protestants,  who  number  about  15,000 
souls.  The  horror  which  the  ouvriers  of  La  Croix  Kousse 
have  for  anything  connected  with  Roman  Catholicism  is  so 
great,  that  it  would  suffice  to  be  suspected  of  having  some  con- 
nection with  the  priests  to  be  at  once  classed  among  the  enemies 
of  the  people.  I  was  told  the  other  day  that  to  say  Saint  Peter 
and  Saiiit  John,  instead  of  summarily  calling  them  Peter  and 
John,  was  enough  to  excite  their  prejudices.  Happily  they 
have  learned  to  call  us  by  the  good  name  of  '  Evangeliques,''  by 
which  term  they  indicate  our  opposition  to  the  Catholics  ;  this 
is  the  name  generally  given  by  them  to  the  Protestants.  The 
population  of  Lyons  is  less  interesting  than  that  of  Paris. 
Among  the  higher  classes  there  is  abundant  pride  and  disdain, 
— and  that  is  the  case  everywhere, — and  plenty  of  ignorance, 
coarseness  of  manners,  and  dirt  among  the  people :  the  merchants 
and  shopkeepers  are  well  known  for  their  cupidity.  Lyons, 
although  two  rivers  flow  through  it,  passes,  rightly  or  wrongly, 
for  one  of  the  dirtiest  towns  in  France.  The  advantages  of 
the  south  are  not  to  be  found  there,  and  there  are  many  of  its 
inconveniences.  Other  customs,  and  the  food  they  eat, 
betray  their  southern  origin.  You  will  learn  with  pleasure 
that  since  1871  the  name  of  Swiss  has  enjoyed  a  good  reputa- 
tion. It  is  enough  to  be  announced  as  Swiss  to  the  audience 
of  workmen  to  perceive  at  once  signs  of  approbation  in  the 
assembly. 

"  By  being  present  at  these  meetings,  I  was  able  to  assure 
myself  of  the  difference  which  exists  between  the  Lyonnese 
and  Parisians.  Those  who  attend  Mr.  M'All's  meetings  at 
Paris  are  too  often  condemned  to  hear  English  speakers  who 
address  them  in  their  own  tongue,  or  in  a  French,  after  their 
own  fashion.  It  is  a  weakness  of  these  sons  of  Albion,  so  great 
in  other  respects,  to  imagine  that  everywhere  they  are  indis- 


Miscellaneotts :  Past  and  Present.     255 

pensable,  and  that  there  is  something  essential  wanting  if  they 
are  absent,  or  inactive,  or  silent. 

"  And  so  all  the  English  friends  who  pass  through  Paris  do 
not  fail  to  claim  the  inedioulgence  of  the  Paris  ouvriers,  in  the 
reunions.  In  their  opinion  this  is  not  only  a  duty,  but  a 
right.  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  they  support  the  work?  That, 
however,  which  has  often  struck  me  is  to  see  the  wonderful 
goodwill  with  which  they  endure  the  cacophonies  which  come 
from  the  lips  of  the  strangers.  Here  and  there  one  may  re- 
mark a  slight  smile,  but  laughter — never.  A  stranger,  they 
told  me,  enjoys  immunities  which  are  refused  to  a  native.  At 
Lyons  the  people  have  some  progress  to  make  before  they 
reach  this  height  of  culture.  One  evening  an  Englishman 
wished  to  speak  at  Vaise,  at  the  same  time  excusing  himself 
for  not  being  able  to  speak  '  our  beautiful  French  tongue,' 
'  notre  belle  langue  frangaise.'  M.  de  Watteville  was  to  trans- 
late his  speech.  But  hardly  had  the  first  accents  of  that 
strange  and  barbaric  tongue  fallen  on  the  ears  of  the  people, 
than  a  loud  burst  of  laughter  was  the  answer  received.  In 
vain  the  president  asked  for  silence,  and  claimed  the  observ- 
ance of  the  rules  of  hospitality,  for  the  second  sentence  was 
hardly  begun,  but  it  met  with  the  same  result ;  and  this, 
although  the  speaker  said  that  he  was  going  to  speak  of  the 
Russo-Turkish  war.  The  Englishman  had  to  withdraw  his 
speech,  which  he  did  with  much  good  grace  and  good-humour. 

"  One  would  think  that  after  such  a  scene  discipline  is  rather 
difl&cult  to  enforce  in  these  meetings. '  I  would  say,  not  at  all ; 
and,  indeed,  much  progress  has  been  made  during  the  past  few 
weeks.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Mission  our  friends  were 
followed,  when  they  left  the  meeting,  by  a  troop  of  mischievous 
fellows,  who  mocked,  shouted,  or  ran  after  them.  I  can  say 
that  this  habit  has  already  completely  disappeared.  In  the 
hall  itself  a  quiet  reproof  from  the  j)resident  is  sufficient  to 
obtain  order,  silence,  and  respect,  when,  for  example,  some 
noisy  fellows  amuse  themselves  by  disturbing  the  singing. 


256  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

M.  de  Wattevi]le  makes  it  a  rule  to  put  no  one  out  of  the  meet- 
ing, except  when  it  is  absolutely  necessary.  There  is  always  a 
policeman  at  the  entrance,  a  precaution  which  was  judged  to 
be  necessary  by  the  pastors  of  Lyons  when  the  work  began, 
which,  however,  is  not  considered  necessary  at  Paris.  It  would 
be  a  pity  to  suppress  the  custom,  now  that  it  exists,  besides,  it 
is  an  excellent  means  of  evangelising  the  police.  The  other 
day  the  gendarme  on  duty  came  at  the  end  of  the  meeting 
to  ask  a  New  Testament. 

"  At  the  beginning  of  the  Mission  the  men  liked  to  enter  with 
their  hats  on,  and  the  policeman  thought  it  his  duty  to  snatch 
them  violently  off  their  heads  in  the  name  of  public  decency. 
M.  de  Watteville  has  put  an  end  to  this  hard  method  of  keep- 
ing order,  and  now  the  gentleness  of  the  president,  and  the 
heat  of  the  crowded  room,  as  La  Fontaine  says, 

'  Does  more  than  violence  and  anger,' 

They  have  yet  to  learn,  it  is  true,  that  they  must  not  take 
their  neighbours'  hymn-books,  nor  snatch  from  them  the  tracts 
that  please  them.  Let  us  hope,  as  we  now  lend  them  books 
from  a  small  library,  that  the  temptation  to  take  away  what  is 
not  their  own  will  be  less  strong. 

"I  have  been  often  struck  by  the  attention  with  which 
these  people,  literally  gathered  in  from  the  great  thoroughfares 
and  streets,  listen  to  the  addresses,  spoken,  as  you  know,  with- 
out any  attempt  at  eloquence.  The  rules  of  oratory  are  here 
exactly  the  same  as  at  Paris  :  to  begin  by  catching  the  atten- 
tion by  comparisons,  stories,  sometimes  even  by  a  trifling 
amusing  remark  to  reach  the  heart  and  conscience,  taking  up 
no  more  time  than  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes.  That  is  all  the 
homiletic  of  our  meetings. 

"  I  have  been  told  that  often  people  are  seen  to  go  out  during 
the  meeting,  to  walk  thoughtfully  on  the  pavement  for  a  few 
minutes  and  then  come  in  again.  I  have  seen  some  go  out  and 
immediately  return  with  a  friend.   Here  and  there  a  good  lady 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     257 

crosses  herself :  the  singing  of  hymns  takes  the  place  of  the 
bell.*  As  long  as  the  harmonium  is  quiet,  and  the  people 
have  not  begun  to  sing  one  of  the  not  very  classical  but  spirited 
and  catching  hymns  in  Mr.  M'All's  collection,  many  empty 
chairs  are  to  be  seen,  those  who  are  present  being  occupied 
in  reading  tracts,  or  turning  over  the  pages  of  11  Ami  de  la 
Maison.  One  can  see  the  passers-by  standing  at  the  door,  not 
sure  if  they  shall  enter  ;  and  with  our  little  printed  invitation 
in  their  hand,  others  read  it  as  they  walk  away.  But  as  soon 
as  the  singing  is  heard  in  the  street,  crowds  enter,  and  each 
hymn  that  is  sung  draws  new  listeners.  Those  who  go  out 
have  their  places  immediately  filled,  so  that  we  have  always 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  hall  filled  during  the  second  half  of 
the  hour. 

"  The  mission-halls  are  four  in  number,  and  were  all  formerly 
shops  :  the  smallest  hold  from  100  to  130  persons,  the  largest 
from  200  to  220. 

"At  Lyons,  as  at  Paris,  these  meetings  are  designated  by 
order  '  reunions  morales  ;'  and  their  character  answers  well  to 
the  name.  Everything  that  looks  like  public  worship  in  a 
church  is  avoided :  a  short  prayer  closes  the  meeting,  but  it 
would  not  do  thus  to  commence.  Prayer  is  offered,  unseen  by 
men,  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  to  speak,  and  our  friends 
have  more  than  once  made  proof  in  their  experience  of  the 
fact  that  there  is  an  intimate  and  necessary  correspondence 
between  this  act  of  prayer  and  the  success,  greater  or  less,  of 
the  meeting. 

"  That  which  is  needed,  as  at  Paris,  is  workers.  The  pastors 
of  the  two  churches, — National  and  Free, — manifest  their  sym- 
pathy for  the  work  without  exception,  and  lend  their  aid,  as 
far  as  their  duties  permit.  Several  laymen  of  piety,  and  well 
fitted  for  the  work,  have  given  their  aid  ;  but  all  this  help  is 

*  *'  Referring  to  the  bell,  which  is  rung  each  time  the  host  is 
elevated  during  the  performance  of  mass." 

S 


258  The  Wh  ite  Fields  of  France. 

not  enough  for  actual  needs,  and  this  poverty  of  helpers  renders 
the  extension  of  the  work  impossible  at  present ;  though  this 
will  soon  become  a  moral  necessity. 

"  Our  friends  cannot  do  more  without  impairing  their  health, 
and  thus  all  will  be  lost,  for  no  one  has  yet  appeared,  even  in  the 
distance,  to  take  their  place.  Every  evening  is  occupied  with- 
out exception,  and  this  cannot  go  on  long.  Besides,  they  have 
established  several  meetings  for  children  similar  to  those  exist- 
ing in  Paris.  M.  de  Watteville  must,  therefore,  soon  have  a 
properly-qualified  colleague,  and  thus  be  able  to  found  new 
stations,  and  find  a  little  time  of  rest,  most  necessary  for  him- 
self and  his  devoted  partner.  That  which  increases  the  fatigue 
of  those  who  direct  this  work,  is  that  after  half-past  nine  in 
the  evenings  the  omnibuses  cease  to  go,  and  our  friends  must 
return  on  foot  to  their  home,  in  all  weathers,  sometimes  a  con- 
siderable distance,  and  after  an  evening's  work  fatiguing  for 
both. 

"  The  relations  of  M.  de  Watteville  with  the  pastors  of  the 
city  are  most  cordial.  As  at  Paris,  the  work  is  entirely  un- 
connected with  any  denomination,  as  it  was  from  the  beginning. 
The  time  will  come,  I  believe,  when  it  will  be  necessary  to 
consider  what  to  do  with  those  persons  who  have  been  gained 
to  the  cause  of  the  Gospel  by  means  of  these  meetings,  and  the 
most  simple  thing,  and  most  practical,  will  be  to  recommend 
them  to  go  to  some  evangelical  church.  There  must  soon  also 
be,  as  at  Paris,  lady  visitors,  who  will  find  their  way  into  the 
families,  and  water  the  seed  sown  in  the  meetings.  But  all 
that  will  come  about  in  time :  our  friends  are  decided  not  to 
hurry,  and  will  follow  the  leadings  of  Providence,  rather  than 
go  before  them. 

"  I  shall  be  asked,  Is  there  yet  any  fruit  of  this  Mission  ? 
and  I  answer,  Yes.  Several  persons,  we  know,  have  been 
touched  by  the  words  which  they  have  heard.  Have  there  yet 
been  any  conversions "?  I  do  not  know.  Let  us  remember 
that  the  work  is  only  beginning.     Two  facts,  however,  may  be 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     259 

given  as  significant.  In  tlie  neiglibonrhood  of  the  station  of 
La  Croix  Eousse,  the  Free  Church  has  opened  a  chapel ;  and 
since  these  meetings  were  established,  the  audience  has  tripled 
itseK.  While  I  was  at  Lyons,  M.  de  Pressens6  gave  several 
conferences  on  'Materialism'  in  the  Free  Church,  which  is 
seated  for  from  1200  to  1500  persons.  It  was  filled,  they  told 
me,  by  people  who  had  never  been  there  before,  and  the 
members  of  the  church  could  not  find  room. 

"  I  have,  then,  brought  away  from  Lyons  an  excellent  impres- 
sion of  the  work  just  begun ;  and  ever  since  I  have  been  put- 
ting to  myself  this  question,  How  comes  it  that  the  evangelisa- 
tion of  the  ouvriers,  which  succeeds  so  well  in  two  places,  so 
far  separated  from  each  other  as  Paris  and  Lyons,  has  so  often 
failed  with  us?  Is  it  the  case  that  the  type  of  meetings, 
imagined  and  created  by  Mr.  M'All,  and  which  has  so  well 
succeeded  in  France,  is  the  only  method  suitable  to  be  adopted 
in  every  other  country  for  the  working-classes  ]  Perhaps  ;  but 
after  all,  what  a  charm  must  be  broken,  what  fatal  prejudices 
must  be  dissipated,  before  we  can  hope  to  see  the  Gospel,  or 
even  la  morale,  listened  to  at  Neuchatel  by  those  whom  we 
call  the  working-classes.  I  leave  this  problem  to  your  readers  ; 
it  has  not  yet  been  solved  by  me. 

"  Meanwhile,  let  us  be  grateful  to  God  for  having  placed  one 
of  the  former  students  of  our  college,  now  one  of  our  ordained 
ministers,  over  a  work  which  we  cannot  accomplish  here.  Let 
us  be  thankful  also  that  God  has  given  him  the  gifts  necessary 
to  carry  on  successfully  such  an  enterprise.  I  cannot  better 
sum  up  a  most  sincere  opinion  of  what  I  have  seen  and  heard, 
than  by  saying,  Our  friend  is  fitted  for  the  work,  and  it  suits 

him  well. 

"A.  Gretillat, 

"  Professor  in  the  Free  Church  College  of  Neuchdtd, 

and  Colleague  of  Professor  Godet.^' 

Here  I  had  meant  the  Lyons  narrative  to  close ; 


26o         The  White  Fields  of  France, 

but,  after  writing  the  above,  I  obtained  from  Mr. 

Dodds   the   following  letter  of   M.   de   Watteville, 

which  brings  down  the  story  of  the  work  in  that  city 

to  the  present  summer.     It  is  one  of  no  common 

interest,  and  is  dated  ''Lyons,  30th  May,  1879  "  : — 

"  You  ask  me  for  news  of  our  meetings  at  Lyons, — our  little 
(jMites)  meetings,  as  they  like  to  call  them  here.  And  first 
of  all,  let  me  say  that  I  feel  glad  that  they  are  small ;  every 
work  which  is  destined  to  increase  should  have  a  small 
beginning,  and  ought  to  be  like  the  grain  of  mustard-seed,  to 
which  Jesus  Christ  compares  the  kingdom  of  God.  A  little 
seed  cast  among  the  working  men  of  Lyons, — such  has 
been  the  modest  meeting-place  opened  by  Mr.  M'AU  on  the 
17th  of  November,  1878,  in  La  Guilloti^re.  It  is  worth  while 
remarking  that  this  is  the  first  of  our  mission-halls  which  we 
are  about  to  quit,  and  begin  anew  not  far  off.  We  hope  to 
open  this  new  'salle'  about  the  end  of  June.  It  is  larger, 
better  ventilated,  lighted  with  gas,  and  will  not  fail  to  attract 
the  working-classes  of  the  district.  The  number  of  regular 
attendants  at  this  meeting  is  a  proof  of  the  deep  interest  with 
which  these  workmen, — their  hands  black  with  coal,  their  faces 
bronzed  by  the  heat  of  the  furnaces  at  which  they  work, — 
listen  to  our  evangelistic  addresses.  Every  Sunday  morning 
we  gather  together  a  few  cliildren,  and  address  them,  striving 
to  suit  our  words  to  their  understanding,  chiefly  by  the  use  of 
illustrations.  Close  to  our  mission-hall  in  this  quarter,  in  a 
miserable  garret,  is  a  working  woman,  poor  and  alone.  Our 
meetings  have  opened  up  new  horizons  for  her.  Her  husband 
has  forsaken  her,  and  she  is  obhged  to  work,  gaining  her  daily 
bread  by  means  of  her  needle.  In  spite  of  her  many  trials, 
this  honest  and  sunple  heart  preserves  an  exhaustless  source  of 
poetry  and  a  charm  which  is  all  her  own, — which,  too,  has 
fitted  her  to  understand  and  feel  the  attractive  power  of  the 


Miscellaneous:  Pas  I  and  Present.     261 

Gospel.  Wishing  to  let  us  know  what  thoughts  rose  in  her 
heart  at  the  first  meeting  which  she  attended,  she  showed  us 
the  letter  which  she  had  written  to  her  mother,  a  poor 
peasant  in  Bourgogne,  telling  her  of  the  happiness  which  she 
had  found. 

"  '■  I  must  tell  you,  dear  mother,'  she  wrote,  *  that  some 
gentlemen  have  opened  a  hall  in  the  Place  de  la  Croix  ;  any- 
one goes  there  who  likes,  and  there  is  nothing  to  pay.  They 
sing  such  beautiful  songs,  and  speak  of  Jesus  :  it  is  so  good  to 
love  Jesus  ;  Jesus  loves  that  which  is  good, — the  sun,  the  birds, 
the  flowers  :  He  loves  our  happiness.  0  God  !  bless  my  dear 
mother,  and  the  gentlemen  who  come  and  speak  to  us  ;  you 
must  pardon  me  for  saying  "  Thou"  *  to  God,  but  the  gentle- 
men in  the  meeting  pray  in  this  way,  and  now  I  cannot  do 
otherwise.' 

"  Spite  of  the  bad  reputation  which  this  quarter  possesses, 
our  meetings  have  never  been  troubled.  It  is  true  that  we 
reach  only  a  small  part  of  the  vast  Guilloti^re,  where  the 
houses  are  more  scattered  than  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  It 
will  be  necessary  to  open  another  'salle'  on  the  boundaries  of 
Les  Brotteaux  (the  next  district),  for  from  our  '  salle '  in  La 
Guillotiere  to  that  in  the  Avenue  de  jSToailles  the  distance  is 
nearly  a  mile  and  a-half. 

"  At  Les  Brotteaux  we  have  to  do  with  a  very  mixed 
audience  ;  many  a  great  lady  from  among  the  Protestants 
thinks  it  no  shame  to  sit  side  by  side  with  women  who  must 
work  to  gain  their  daily  bread.  One  of  our  acquaintances  in 
such  a  class  of  society  said  to  us,  one  day,  that  she  met  there 
the  coachmen  and  '  concierges '  of  her  friends  ! 

"  Quite  close  to  our  hall  is  the  '  Theatre  des  Folies  Berg^re.' 
Every  evening  they  light  a  shining  row  of  transparent  and 
many-coloured  shining  gas-jets,  beside  which  our  more  modest 
light  is  not  an  unsuccessful  rival.     On  a  dark  evening  it  lights 

*  "It  is  the  Roman  Catholic  habit  to  say  'you.'  " 


262  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

up  the  words,  '  Reunion  Morale,'  which  is  the  *  sign '  of  our 
quiet  little  '  boutique.'  *  'Wisdom  crieth  without :  she  uttereth 
her  voice  in  the  streets  ;  she  crieth  in  the  chief  place  of  con- 
course, in  the  opening  of  the  gates.'  Many  souls  that  have 
gone  astray,  and  are  seeking  on  the  broad  way  of  sin  to  satisfy 
the  cravings  of  the  flesh,  have  stopped  before  our  door  and 
listened  to  our  aj^peals  for  a  few  moments.  Others  have  only 
read  the  text,t  '  Jesus  says,  Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will 
in  no  wise  cast  out.'  By  this  means  many  young  men, — 
clerks  and  message-boys, — have  been  attracted  by  the  sound 
of  our  hymns.  At  first  they  came  to  laugh  and  mock  ;  now 
they  have  become  more  serious,  and  at  the  end  of  the  meeting 
on  Monday  evening,  we  generally  gather  them  together  to 
practise  a  few  hymns.  A  choir  of  about  fifteen  persons  has 
been  formed  under  our  kind  organist,  Madame  Coste,  and  the 
hymns,  sung  in  four  parts,  give  a  great  attractive  power  to  our 
meetings. 

"  Testimonies  precious  and  encouraging  to  us,  from  attendants 
who  have  got  good  at  this  meeting  are  not  wanting.  One 
evening,  during  the  past  winter,  a  gentleman  of  striking 
appearance,  waited  patiently  till  the  crowd  had  withdrawn  to 
speak  to  me  ;  he  said  that  he  had  come  in  '  by  chance,'  not 
having  the  least  idea  what  was  going  on  within,  and  that  he 
was  very  glad  to  have  heard  the  addresses.  '  I  am  a  Eoman  and 
Apostolical  Catholic,'  he  cried  out, '  but  I  sympathise  heartily 
with  your  work.'  A  lady,  dressed  in  mourning,  a  Catholic, 
and  belonging  to  a  noble  family,  had  continued  to  attend  our 
meeting  for  some  time,  accompanied  by  her  two  servants.  Her 
reserved  and  almost  haughty  manner  kept  us  at  a  distance. 
One  evening,  however,  at  the  end  of  a  very  striking  address, 


*  "  The  room  was  formerly  a  shop." 

+  "  It  is  a  banner-text  hung  on  the  wall  opposite  the  door.  We  are 
obliged  to  put  '  Jesus  says,'  as  mistakes  and  misapprehensions  as 
to  our  objects  often  occur." 


Miscellaneous  :  Past  and  Present.      263 

the  ice  broke,  and  turning  towards  us,  her  eyes  filled  with 
tears  :  *  Thank  you,'  she  said,  warmly  shaking  our  hand, '  what 
a  privilege  to  hear  words  like  these  ;  this  is  the  first  year  that 
I  have  come  to  your  meetings,  but  I  shall  always  attend,  for 
they  do  me  good.'  Before  leaving  for  the  country  this  lady 
expressed  to  us  her  great  regret  that  she  could  no  longer  be 
present,  and  her  hope  to  find  us  there  on  her  return  next 
winter. 

"  Two  young  workmen  came  in  one  evening  as  they  passed 
along  the  street.  They  were  heard  to  say  one  to  another  as 
they  went  ont,  '  We  came  in  to  get  warm,  but  here  we  have 
heard  something  very  good  ;  and  then,  it  is  so  clear,  one  under- 
stands everything  that  these  men  say.  We  must  come  back  : 
I  like  that  better  than  the  ball ! ' 

"  From  my  windows,  dear  Sir,  I  see  rising  before  me  the 
hill  of  La  Croix  Rousse,  having  on  its  steep  declivities  many 
rows  of  houses,  which  one  would  easily  mistake  for  the  walls 
of  a  fortress, — but  if  La  Croix  Rousse  is  a  fortress,  it  is  so,  not 
in  the  literal  but  figurative  sense.  Fortress  of  infidelity  it  is 
indeed,  but  also  mountain  of  labour  ('montagne  de  travail'), 
as  the  people  call  it.  To  the  west,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Saone,  stands  Fourviere,  with  its  churches  and  convents, 
opposite  to  the  '  mountain  of  labour,'  the  fortress  of  ultramon- 
tanism  and  superstition  of  the  grossest  kind.  At  present 
they  are  building  on  it  a  memorial  cathedral  to  the  Virgin  of 
Fourviere,  who  kept  the  attacking  German  armies  at  a  distance 
at  the  time  of  the  war,  built  of  the  grandest  and  most  costly 
materials  that  can  be  found.  Nowhere,  as  at  Lyons,  does  one 
see  these  two  citadels  of  Satan,  superstition  and  infidelity,  so 
opposed  one  to  the  other.  But  they  will  not  long  remain  thus, 
and  will  meet  some  day, — are  they  not  sisters  ?  The  people  of 
La  Croix  Rousse  havejust  passed  through  a  painful  crisis,  happily 
of  short  duration.  The  strike  did  not  assume  the  proportions 
which  were  expected.  But  the  want  of  work  did  not  make 
itself  less  felt,  and  there  is  everywhere  trouble  and  suffering. 


264  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  Our  '  salle '  at  La  Croix  Eousse  holds  more  than  two 
hundred  chairs,  and  our  friends  tell  us  that  were  it  double  or 
three  times  as  large  it  would  be  as  well  filled  as  it  is  now.  How 
great  is  the  attractive  power  of  the  Gospel.  What  an  influence 
does  it  exercise  to  convince,  to  reprove,  and  to  convert.  A 
man  of  the  worst  character,  and  of  a  very  bad  reputation,  dared 
to  utter  threats  against  our  meeting.  Instead  of  doing  what 
he  threatened,  he  has  now  become  a  regular  attendant.  One 
of  our  friends,  a  pastor,  who  was  seeking  one  of  his  parishioners, 
on  the  fifth  floor  of  a  house  in  La  Croix  Eousse,  entered  by- 
mistake  a  garret,  where  was  lying  upon  a  pallet  a  poor  old  man, 
ill,  and  in  extreme  destitution.  *  You  must  feel  very  lonely,* 
he  said,  '  without  family  and  without  friends.'  '  Oh,  I  am  not 
alone,'  replied  the  poor  workman.  'That  is  true,'  said  the 
pastor  ;  *  for  God  is  with  you.'  '  Yes,'  said  the  old  man,  '  God 
is  with  me,  and  also  Jesus  Christ.  T  do  not  belong  to  any 
religion.  I  don't  know  of  anything  else  but  Jesus  Christ. 
When  I  was  well,  I  used  to  go  always  to  the  meeting  in  the 
Kue  de  Cuire  ;  it  is  there  that  I  heard  about  Jesus  Christ,  and 
now  that  I  am  too  ill  to  attend, — well,  I  am  not  alone  ;  Jesus; 
Christ  is  with  me.' 

"  We  leave  La  Croix  Eousse  and  its  factories,  whose  noisy 
hum  is  heard  even  in  the  streets,  its  intelligent,  honest,  and 
laborious  population,  and  descending  the  liill  by  the  '  ficelle,'' 
a  railway,  the  carriages  of  which  are  drawn  up  and  let  down 
by  a  rope,  we  go  to  take  the  '  mouche  '  (i.e.,  '  fly  ')  on  the  quay 
of  the  Eiver  Saone.  The  '  mouches '  are  pretty  little  boats, 
which  steam  up  and  down  between  Perrache  and  Vaise.  One 
day  when  going  to  Vaise  in  one  of  these  boats, — very  con- 
venient when  it  rains,  which  is  often  the  case  at  Lyons,  whose 
climate,  I  am  told,  is  rather  like  that  of  your  country, — finding 
myself,  I  say,  one  day  in  the  cabin  of  the  '  mouche,'  a  work- 
man, with  a  pleasant  expression  on  his  face,  came  u^)  to  me 
and  said,  *  Monsieur,  I  have  seen  you  at  the  meeting.'  '  At 
what  meeting,  please  ] '     '  Oh,  at  the  meeting  in  the  Eue  de 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.      265 

Cuire.'  '  Good,  and  do  you  go  there  often  ? '  '  Well,  wlien  I 
have  time,  I  hear  there  something  good,  and  it  costs  nothing.' 
That  which  strikes  these  men  most  of  all,  accustomed  as  they 
are  to  pay  for  everything,  even  to  the  very  chairs  in  the 
churches,  is  to  find  that  there  are  people  in  the  world  who 
offer  them  something  for  nothing.  Often  here  we  see  persons, 
who,  when  entering  our  rooms  for  the  first  time,  hesitate  before 
they  sit  down.  Even  when  we  print  on  our  bills  of  invitation, 
the  words,  '  Entry  free,'  in  large  letters,  they  don't  believe 
their  eyes.  Are  there  not  many  people  at  Lyons  and  else- 
where,— perhaps  even  in  Scotland, — who  do  the  same,  and 
who  cannot  believe  in  the  free  grace  of  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ  ?  Let  us  take  to  heart  that  word  of  the  Gospel, '  Freely 
ye  have  received,  freely  give.' 

"  Our  little  mission-hall  at  Vaise  is  bright  and  well  situated, 
but  too  small ;  the  atmosphere  is  stifling  ;  and  what  is  to  be 
done  ?  Change  our  hall  !  Yes  ;  but  halls  are  not  too  abundant 
in  this  little  '  faubourg.'  We  must  wait  for  some  better  occa- 
sion. We  have  at  Vaise  two  audiences,  one  on  Sundays  and 
another  on  a  week-day.  On  Sunday  they  are  staid  people,  for 
the  most  part,  fathers  and  mothers,  and  some  passers-by,  quiet, 
attentive,  and  sympathetic.  On  Thursday  we  are  invaded  by 
a  band  of  noisy  and  rude  young  men,  who  give  us,  as  people 
say,  *  du  fil  a  reborder.'  "^  One  of  our  friends  unceremoniously 
calls  them  '  the  Papuans  of  the  mission,'  However,  though  they 
are  a  little  savage,  our  young  men  at  Vaise  have  souls  to  save 
as  well  as  others.  After  all,  good-humour,  a  little  brightness, 
a  kind  word,  do  more  to  soften  them  than  the  severity  with 
which  one  is  often  tempted  to  treat  them,  when  they  make  a 
disturbance  during  the  addresses,  or  disturb  the  singing  by 
sounds  without  a  name.  '  Patience  and  time,'  La  Fontaine 
has  well  said,  '  do  more  than  violence  and  anger.'  What  is 
better  still  is  that  love,  with  which  the  love  of  Him  who  came 

*  Intranslateable.    It  means,  "plenty  of  work  to  do." 


2  66  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

not  to  hecal  tlie  wliole  but  those  that  are  sick  ought  to  inspire 
us.  It  would  be  wrong  of  us  not  to  recognise  that  there  is 
already  a  little  improvement  in  the  conduct  of  these  savages, 
and  we  do  not  despair  of  seeing  them  some  day  more  civilised 
and  more  pious. 

"  Now  Ave  are  about  to  return  home,  but  as  the  ^  mouches  ' 
cease  to  ply  from  an  early  hour  of  the  evening,  we  must  go 
home  on  foot.  The  fantastic  glimmer  of  the  lights,  that  burn 
here  and  there  on  the  hills  that  surround  our  road,  accompanies 
us  all  the  way,  and  makes  us  think  of  those  gnomes  of  the  fairy 
tales  who  flit  about  at  night  with  torches  to  give  them  light. 
As  for  ourselves,  we  like  to  repeat  this  line  from  one  of  your 
English  hymns, — 

"  *  Lord,  if  I  may,  I'll  serve  another  day.'  " 

There  may  be  great  things  in  store  for  Lyons  yet, 
in  spite  of  ultramontane  opposition  and  atheistic 
contempt.  The  "  martyrs  of  Lyons  and  Vienne," 
among  the  noblest  of  the  noble  army  of  martyrs, 
speak  from  the  second  century  to  the  nineteenth, 
and  remind  us  of  the  great  things  done  there  of  old. 
The  Gospel  then  came  from  the  East ;  now  it  comes 
from  the  North.  Some  of  the  seven  churches, 
perhaps  Smyrna,  v^hose  merchants  traded  with 
Lyons,  sent  the  living  Word  to  France  in  the  early 
centuries  ;  the  Christians  of  England  are  endeavour- 
ing to  send  it  again  in  these  last  days  ;  and  perhaps 
there  may  yet  be  granted  to  Lyons  true  ministers  of 
Christ,  such  as  Irenaeus  and  Pothinus,  Alexander 
and  Attalus;  or  true  martyrs,  such  as  Blandina 
and  Ponticus. 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     267 

SECTION  V, 
Fragments. 

Some  twenty  years  ago,  on  our  way  home  from 
Lake  Leman,  we  spent  a  few  days  in  Paris,  having 
an  old  friend,  long  resident  there,  as  our  guide  and 
commissionaire.  Eeturning  to  our  hotel  one  night, 
past  the  mid  hour,  a  man  went  by,  roughly  dressed, 
and  moving  quickly.  He  carried  a  small  lamp  and 
a  box  about  with  him,  and  in  his  right  hand  a  stick, 
with  an  iron  hook  on  the  one  end,  which  he  struck 
into  each  heap  of  refuse  as  he  went  along  on  the 
edge  of  the  pavement. 

"  There  goes  a  cliiffonnier''  said  our  friend. 

"  A  chiffonnier  !     What  is  that  ?  " 

"  A  rag-gatherer,"  he  said  ;  ''  or  collector  of  all 
sorts  of  things  from  the  nightly  deposits  in  the 
streets.  There  are  thousands  of  these  in  Paris, 
who  make  their  livelihood  by  thus  fishing  amid  the 
filth  of  the  city." 

"We  had  seen  such  persons  in  our  own  land,  but 
chiefly  in  the  form  of  old  women,  who  come  out  in 
the  early  dawn  to  search  and  sift  our  ''  ash-buckets." 
In  Paris,  however,  the  trade  is  more  extensive,  and 
is  connected  not  only  with  a  sort  of  corporation  or 


268  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  institution,"  but  with  a  colony,  to  whose  "  local 
habitation "  is  given  the  name  of  "  Chiffonville," 
not  far  from  Belleville.  It  corresponds  somewhat  to 
the  "  Rag-fair  "  of  London. 

The  Paris  Mission,  as  we  have  already  noticed, 
has  entered  Chiffonville,  and  found  human  ears  to 
hear  and  human  hearts  to  receive  the  Gospel.  Gazed 
at  with  wonder,  the  visitors  have  been  respectfully 
treated,  and  are  able  to  tell  of  true  work  done  amid 
these  poorest  of  the  poor  in  Paris,  these  farthest 
removed  of  all  from  Christianity,  or  civilised  life. 
"  This  man  receiveth  sinners  "  has  been  seen  even 
here.  "  He  has  had  compassion  on  the  ignorant, 
and  on  them  that  are  out  of  the  way.'*' 

These  rag-gatherers  are  both  male  and  female,  old 
and  young,  living  together,  as  in  some  gipsy  village, 
in  the  heart  of  the  French  metropolis.  It  is  often 
in  such  a  district  that  the  brightest  instances  of  the 
great  spiritual  change  occur ;  and  from  such  an 
unlikely  class  God  often  takes  His  "■  hidden  ones," 
to  manifest  His  own  grace  and  the  power  of  His 
truth.  The  following  narrative  from  the  pen  of  a 
worker  will  greatly  interest  our  readers  : — 

"  Our  Httle  '  cliiffonniere '  is  one  of  a  hand  of  rag-pickers 
inhabiting  the  vicinity  of  Belleville. 

"  One  little  dreams  of  the  existence  of  such  a  settlement,  but 
on  turning  down  a  narrow  lane,  leading  out  of  a  more  fre- 
quented thoroughfare,  one  comes  in  sight  of  what  looks  almost 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     269 

like  a  miniature  hamlet  among  the  mountains,  a  summit  of  the 
'  Buttes  Chaumont/  with  its  crown  of  dark  foliage  forming  a 
picturesque  background  to  the  rustic  dwellings  of  these  poor 
people. 

"  In  and  about  their  houses  rags  and  rubbish  lie  everywhere, 
and  behind  is  a  large  shed  where  this  refuse,  found  in  parts  of 
the  great  city,  is  picked  and  sorted,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  be 
turned  to  advantage. 

"  When  we  make  our  appearance,  women  and  children  come 
out  of  their  doors  to  look  at  us.  Within,  some  of  their  men 
are  to  be  seen  smoking,  drinking,  or  card-playing  ;  and  all 
have  such  a  disreputable  appearance  that  we  have  been  warned 
of  the  danger  of  going  amongst  them  ;  but  nevertheless  we  are 
always  well  received,  and  pictures  and  tracts  accepted  with 
thankfulness.  Some  few  have  from  time  to  time  been  persuaded 
to  attend  a  neighbouring  meeting,  and  a  little  band  of  children 
has  been  gathered  to  join  us  at  the  Sunday  school.  Of  these, 
this  little  girl  is  the  one  who  gives  us  most  encouragement.  A 
poor,  neglected,  motherless  child,  accustomed,  like  the  rest  of 
the  community,  to  go  out  rag-gathering  every  morning  before 
daylight,  and  spending  the  rest  of  her  time  in  dirt  and  idleness, 
she  has  reached  the  age  of  thirteen  or  fourteen  without  know- 
ing how  to  read,  and  ignorant  as  a  little  heathen  of  all  true 
religion. 

"  Now,  however,  her  father  has  consented  to  her  being  placed 
at  a  day  school,  where  she  attends  regularly,  and  takes  great 
interest  in  learning  to  read  and  write;  She  has  also  come  into 
possession  of  a  New  Testament,  and  gets  her  father  to  help  her 
to  learn  the  texts  of  Scripture  set  her  at  school. 

"  One  day  she  had  been  repeating  to  her  teacher  the  verse, 
*  Come  imto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,'  &c., 
and  this  led  to  some  remarks  on  the  burden  of  sin. 

" '  "What  is  sin  ] '  she  was  asked. 

"  '  It  is  disobeying  God.' 

"  '  Have  you  any  sins  ? ' 


270         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  '  Yes  ;  but  I  do  not  sin  so  much  now  as  I  used.  I  ask  God 
to  forgive  me  my  sins.' 

" '  What  do  we  call  that  when  we  ask  something  of  God  ]' 

"  '  It  is  praying.' 

"  '  Well,  how  do  you  pray  ?  tell  me  about  it.' 

"  '  I  ask  God  to  forgive  me,  and  I  ask  Him  to  help  me  to 
learn  my  verse  at  school,  and  to  learn  to  read,  because  I  do  so 
much  want  to  know  how  to  read  ;  only  everybody  does  not 
know  that  I  pray.  Father  does  not  think  that  I  pray.  I 
don't  do  it  when  he  is  there,  because  I  can't  say  it  out  loud.' 

" '  But  you  need  not  pray  aloud  ;  you  might  say  it  in  a 
whisper,' 

"  *  Oh  no  !  I  don't  like  to  do  it  before  father.  I  ahvays  prmj 
when  I  go  out  rag-gathering  in  the  morning,  with  my  basket  on 
my  bach  I  pray  for  father  and  I  pray  for  my  brother,  because 
I  have  a  big  brother  who  is  bad,  and  he  does  not  live  at  home 
with  us,  so  I  pray  to  God  to  forgive  him  too.' 

"  This  conversation  will  show  that  we  have  reason  to  hope 
that  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  are  beginning  to  influence  the 
heart  of  this  poor  child,  and  we  trust  that  she  may  be  the  means 
of  bringing  others  around  her  under  its  influence  also.  She  is 
now  placed  with  friends  who  have  her  under  training  for  ser- 
vice. This  is  at  her  own  request,  as  she  said,  *  Je  ne  veux  plus 
aller  chiffonner.' " 

Of  another  stray  one  gathered  in  from  her  wander- 
ings, and  passing  from  the  gay  bed  to  the  quiet 
reunion,  and  from  that,  we  trust,  into  the  fold  of 
the  Shepherd,  we  have  a  brief  but  touching  narra- 
tive given  in  a  private  letter :  showing  in  what 
unlikely  places  the  good  Shepherd  finds  His  sheep."^ 

*  We  have  already  noticed  the  imperfect  views  of  sin  manifested 
among  the  people.  Let  the  two  following  illustrations,  given  us  by 
a  friend,  be  taken  as  confirmations  : — 


Miscellaneous ':  Past  and  Present.     271 

"  One  Sunday  night, — it  was  the  night  of  a  /cfe,  and  the 
city  was  in  its  gayest  costume, — M came  from  a  ball- 
room close  by,  and  entered  by  chance  our  Grenelle  station. 
She  was  much  excited,  and  hardly  knew  where  she  went,  or 
what  she  did.  Before  the  close  of  the  meeting,  she  was  seen 
weeping  bitterly,  and  when  some  Christian  friends  spoke  to 
her,  she  knelt  down,  and  seemed  as  if  she  would  have  dug  her- 
self into  the  ground  in  her  despair.  Finding  it  impossible  to 
leave  the  poor  girl  alone,  as  she  had  no  alternative  but  that  of 
returning  to  her  life  of  sin  and  degradation,  one  who  was  deeply 
interested  by  her  account,  took  her  to  his  house,  till  some 
home  could  be  provided  for  her. 

"  Little  pet  sins  is  a  common  distinction  among  them.  Conscience 
comes  into  play  when  sin  involves  any  flagrant  wrong  to  a  neigh- 
bour ;  for  their  sense  of  justice  is  keen,  but  hardly  otherwise.  Thus 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  persuade  them  that  a  lie  is  sin  if  it  injures 
no  one.  A  rather  amusing  case  of  this  kind  occurred  where  one  of  our 
lady  workers  was  trying  to  convince  a  poor  market-woman  that  she 
was  a  sinner,  which  she  denied,  out  and  out.  *  But  have  you  never 
told  any  lies  ? '  asked  the  lady.  'Oh  no  ! '  she  never  told  lies.  *  To 
be  sure, '  she  added,  '  I  have  sometimes  said  the  fish  was  fresh  when 
it  was  not ;  but  there,  God  knew  that  was  for  my  interest ;  He 
would  not  be  angry  with  me.' 

"  In  another  case,  a  servant,  of  the  rough  paysanne  class,  quite  a 
different  class  from  the  native  Parisian,  was  sent  to  post  letters  on 
New-Year's  Eve,  and,  in  order  to  get  through  the  crowd  which 
besieged  the  post-office,  she  exclaimed,  *  I  have  left  a  sick  child  at 
home  ;  let  me  pass  ! '  and  got  through.  '  *  But  that  was  a  lie,'  said 
her  mistress.  *  You  don't  call  that  a  lie, '  she  replied  ;  '  I  said  it  to 
get  past ! '  '  No  matter,  it  was  not  true,  it  was  a  sin.'  *  A  sin  !  I 
wish  I  may  never  have  any  worse  sins  than  that,'  said  the  woman, 
laughing  loud  at  the  very  idea,  '  as  if  God  would  be  angry  with  me 
for  that ! '  Further  remonstrance  was  attempted,  but  only  seemed 
to  add  to  her  amusement,  that  such  a  trifle  should  be  regarded  so 
seriously.  Yet  we  believe  this  woman  was  honest  in  the  main,  and 
might  have  been  trusted  in  any  matter  which  she  regarded  as  im- 
portant." 


272  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  M was  under  deep  impression  of  sin,  and  spoke  of  the 

sorrow  lier  conduct  gave  to  lier  poor  parents. 

"On  the  following  day  she  was  received  into  the  Refuge, 
and  there  she  has  been  for  many  months,  never  regretting  to 
have  entered  it. 

*•'  But  temptation  has  often  been  very  great.  Several  times 
she  has  said  to  me,  'I  feel  so  bad;  and  sometimes  when  I 
fancy  I  have  conquered,  I  give  way,  and  lose  in  an  hour  what 
I  have  been  struggling  for  ;  I  am  so  very  wicked.' 

"Though  very  young,  sin  has  made  deep  inroads  in  her 
heart,  and  she  has  also  to  contend  against  the  dreadful  vice  of 
strong  drink. 

"  In  January  she  wrote,  and  after  expressing  loving  New- 
Year  wishes,  added,  '  At  this  season  one  draws  near  to  loved 
ones  in  thought.  Your  souvenir  touches  me  deeply,  and  my 
heart  is  full  of  gratitude.  All  I  desire  is  to  persevere  in  the 
good  path,  where  God  has  jplaced  me,  and  I  hope  He  will  give 
me  strength  to  fulfil  my  desire.' 

"  The  directress  of  the  Refuge  writes  as  follows  :  *  M 's 

struggles  against  drink  have  been  dreadful ;  she  has  at  last 
decided  to  take  nothing  but  w^ater,  which  she  has  done  for  the 
past  six  or  seven  months,  and  has  no  wish  to  drink  wine.  Her 
health  suffers  from  the  continual  efforts  she  has  to  make  to 
resist  her  old  temptations,  which  is  painful  to  see.  During 
the  last  two  or  three  months  she  has  been  more  submissive, 
and  has  made  real  progress.' 

"  May  the  Lord  Jesus  look  on  that  poor  child,  and  tell  her 
He  has  blotted  out  all  her  sins. 

"  It  was  not  till  some  months  afterwards  that  we  discovered  a 
link  of  special  prayer  which  made  this  poor  girl's  recovery  deeply 
interesting.  She  had  spent  some  months  in  a  pastor's  house  (two 
years  since),  and  there  had  had  religious  impressions,  and  ob- 
tained some  knowledge  of  her  Bible.  This  pastor's  wife  could 
not  forget  her,  and  spoke  of  her  on  her  dying  bed,  longing  to  see 
her  once  more,  that  she  might  plead  with  her  about  her  soul. 


MiscellaneoiLS :  Past  and  Present.     273 

She  could  not  be  found,  and  tlie  dying  Christian's  prayers  never 
reached  ^er  ears.  But  they  were  laid  up  before  God,  and  we 
firmly  believe  that  as  they  have  begun  to  be  answered  in  this 
wonderful  way,  so  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  will  answer  them 
yet  more  fully  on  behalf  of  this  poor  wanderer.  Will  not 
those  wlio  may  hear  her  sad  story  unite  in  besieging  the  throne 
of  grace  on  her  behalf  % " 

We  have  already  noticed  the  self-denying  and 
successful  labours  of  Madame  Dalencourt,  and  given 
some  extracts  from  her  reports.  But  the  following 
letter  from  her  to  Mr.  Dodds,  dated  so  recently  as 
"  10th  June,  1879,"  will  be  found  peculiarly  inter- 
esting, both  as  a  reminiscence  of  her  own  striking 
history,  and  a  record  of  the  noble  work  in  which 
she  is  engaged.  As  the  sister  of  Lieutenant  Bellot, 
one  of  the  most  intrepid  of  our  Arctic  explorers,  she 
will  perhaps  be  listened  to  by  some  who  would  not 
have  cared  to  read  the  letter  of  a  humble  Christian 
worker  : — 

"  You  have  expressed  a  desire  to  have  a  short  report  of  our 
ladies'  mission  to  working- women,  and  its  origin,  assuring  me 
that  the  ladies  of  Edinburgh  would  read  it  with  sympathy. 
Although  I  have  very  little  leisure,  this  assurance  makes  me 
happy  to  comply  with  your  request,  for,  after  the  sympathy  of 
the  Saviour,  I  know  nothing  more  encouraging  than  the  sym- 
pathy of  His  people.  Having  much  to  see  in  a  short  space  of 
time,  we  must  make  our  retrospective  journey,  stopping  shortly 
at  the  starting-place,  only  to  wonder  in  our  hearts  at  the  power 
and  compassion  of  God,  who  loves  to  turn  the  darkness  into 
light,  and  to  change  our  trials  into  blessings. 

"  Brought  up  in  a  convent,  my  eyes  were  early  directed  to 

T 


2  74  ^^^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

higher  things,  and  I  hoped  to  remain  there,  to  work  out  my 
salvation,  and  contribute  to  that  of  others  ;  but  my  mother 
was  opposed  to  this,  because  of  my  youth,  when  the  chaj)lain 
conveyed  to  her  my  request.  My  dearly-loved  brother.  Lieu- 
tenant Bellot,  who  died  in  the  Arctic  seas,  in  the  search  of 
Sir  John  Franklin,  had  written  his  journal  half  in  English, 
half  in  French,  and  I  heard  it  whispered,  to  the  horror  of  all, 
that  he  had,  in  his  two  voyages,  fallen  into  the  habit  of  read- 
ing— the  Bible,  and  that  he  delighted  in  it,  and  even  conducted 
service  for  the  crew,  who  listened  to  him  with  edification  1 
'  The  Bible, — the  Book  of  the  Protestants  ! '  said  the  nuns  and 
father-confessors  crossing  themselves  ;  and  I,  scarcely  believing 
such  a  misfortune,  secretly  and  inwardly  resolved  to  find  out 
for  myself  in  what  my  noble  brother  delighted. 

"  I  obtained  the  permission  of  my  family  to  go  to  a  boarding- 
school  in  London,  to  learn  English.  The  Shepherd  placed 
in  the  way  of  His  young  lamb  a  gentle  guide,  who  led  me 
by  *  the  still  waters,'  and  made  my  thirsty  soul  drink  there. 
I  loved  her  dearly,  and  deplored  in  my  heart  that  she  only 
prayed  to  Jesus  Christ.  '•  How  much  she  loses,'  thought  I.. 
We  prayed  earnestly  for  each  other  ;  and  notwithstanding  my 
petitions  to  the  Virgin  and  the  saints,  of  whom  I  knew  the 
pretended  virtues  much  better  than  the  real  ones  of  the  Saviour,, 
her  prayers  were  answered,  and  I  learned  to  know  the  One 
Mediator  who  had  accomplished  my  salvation,  more  than 
eighteen  centuries  ago.  Some  years  passed  in  the  study  of 
Protestant  and  Eoman  Catholic  commentaries,  after  which,  in 
full  conviction,  I  entered  the  Protestant  Church.  Later,  the 
war,  of  which  God  has  already  changed  so  much  of  the  anguish 
into  blessing,  broke  out,  and  sent  me  with  my  young  child 
under  the  Christian  roof  of  Lady  Barrow — *  my  mother  in  the 
faith.'  Her  *  mothers'  meetings,'  so  quietly  held,  touched  me 
deeply,  and  I  was  able  to  see  so  much  Christian  lay-work, 
that  it  seemed  to  me  as  though  one-half  of  London  was 
working    to  convert    the  other    half.     That  moved  me  to 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and Pi^esent.      275 

jealousy,  and  overcoming  an  excessive  timidity,  I  entreated  the 
Lord  to  provide  me  with,  the  means  of  '  doing  the  same '  in  my 
beloved  country.  '  Before  I  called,  He  answered,'  so  far  that 
the  '  Society  of  Friends '  offered  me,  by  the  help  of  a  War 
Victims'  Fund,  means  to  begin  some  meetings  for  women. 
Returning  from  London  I  met  my  husband  at  Versailles, 
where  he  had  taken  refuge  with  the  Government  on  escaping 
from  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  and  was  waiting  for  the  opening  of 
the  city,  which  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Communists.  There 
I  had  an  opportunity  of  gathering  a  few  women  in  my  room 
in  the  hotel  at  which  we  were  staying.  Soon  after  we  settled 
at  Boulogne-sur-Seine,  and  I  began  to  have  meetings  in  a 
room  at  my  own  house.  The  women  received  fivepence 
for  three  hours'  needlework,  during  which  h}inns  were  sung, 
a  tract  read,  and  a  portion  of  the  gospel  read  and  practically 
explained.  We  began,  with  five,  but  gradually  the  number 
increased  to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  necessary  to  rent  a 
house  for  the  meetings.  I  had  as  many  as  284  women,  and 
had  to  give  them  tickets  for  admittance.  A  school  was 
opened  on  Sundays  and  on  Thursdays,  also  an  industrial 
school  for  girls,  and  Bible  classes ;  all  of  which  were  most 
encouragingly  attended.  104  girls,  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
years  of  age,  were  trained  for  service,  only  two  of  them  being 
Protestants.  This  work  lasted  during  six  years  of  great 
blessing,  after  which,  private  circumstances  brought  us  to  Paris, 
but  in  order  not  to  lose  my  intercourse  with  my  dear  people, 
I  continue  to  go  there  every  Thursday  to  superintend  meetings 
for  women  and  children  separately.  We  no  longer  pay  them 
for  their  work,  and  consequently  we  have  not  such  a  good 
attendance  ;  but  I  feel  greatly  encouraged  by  their  coming, 
for  I  know  now  it  is  not  for  the  bread  that  perisheth.  Some 
of  them,  and  they  are  all  Roman  Catholics,  read  the  Bible  at 
home,  induce  others  to  come  to  the  meetings,  and  a  feeling  of 
love  reigns  amongst  them.  They  form  a  small  and  pious 
congregation. 


276  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"Once  inside  Paris  in  1876,  I  was  waiting  on  the  Master  to 
know  what  He  intended  me  to  do  with  the  very  little 
money  I  was  sure  of,  when  dear  Mr.  M'All  kindly  granted 
me,  without  any  payment,  his  Salle  de  Conferences  at  Gare 
d'lvry,  which  I  chose  because  of  the  low,  beggarly  character 
and  re23utation  of  the  people.  There  were  five  women  at  the 
first  meeting,  and  now  thanks  be  to  God  I  have  109  on  the 
list,  whom  we  gather  every  Wednesday.  The  nice  Kiosque 
which  now  replaces  this  Salle  is  a  great  improvement ;  and 
you  will  be  pleased  to  learn  that  one  of  my  friends  from 
Mulhouse  holds  in  an  adjoining  room  a  meeting  for  German 
women  at  the  same  time  that  I  have  the  meeting  for  French 
women  in  the  larger  room.  One  day  her  surprise  and  joy 
were  great  to  see  amongst  the  women  one  that  she  had  wished 
to  bring  to  the  Saviour  when  at  Mulhouse,  and  now  she  has 
this  in  view  more  than  ever. 

"  On  the  17th  of  January  we  opened  at  139  Rue  de  Rennes 
another  women's  meeting  at  Mr,  M'All's  new  station.  This 
part  of  Paris  is  inhabited  by  a  better  class  of  people,  many  of 
whom  are  very  much  engaged  in  business,  and  others,  especially 
the  women,  firmly  attached  to  their  forms  of  worship.  Still 
we  have  reason  to  thank  God  for  the  thirty  women  on  our  list. 
One  of  the  principal  features  of  that  room  is  that  we  distribute 
tracts  at  the  door,  and,  by  a  placard,  invite  women  to  enter, 
which  brings  in  a  variety  of  classes,  and  sometimes  leads  to 
interesting  incidental  conversations." 

We   have   had   frequent   occasion   to   notice  the 

opening  of  stations  time  after  time  in  the  different 

districts,  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  connected 

with  these  openings.      We  give  a  specimen  of  the 

most  recent  of  these,  only  some  months  ago  : — 

"  I  was  at  the  new  Salle  at  Rue  de  Rennes  last  night, — I  think 
I  never  was  at  such  an  interesting  meeting.     Three-fourths  of 


Miscella7ieoics :  Past  and  Present.     277 

the  people  looked  as  if  they  never  had  seen  or  heard  anything 
of  the  sort  before.  When  we  got  there,  though  it  was  close 
upon  the  hour,  there  was  hardly  anybody  in  the  ^alU;  but 
just  outside  a  perfect  mob  at  the  door,  looking  over  each  other's 
heads  and  shoulders  to  see  what  there  might  be  inside,  yet  not 
venturing  one  step  within  the  doorway.  When  the  singing 
began  many  came  in  ;  and  still  more,  when  M.  Eouilly  began 
to  read  a  chapter,  and  the  order  was  gi\^  en  to  close  the  door  ; — 
then,  rather  than  be  quite  shut  out,  they  streamed  in.  During 
the  address  the  Salle  was  quite  full,  and  more  than  full  if 
possible,  for  when  any  went  out,  others  filled  their  places, 
immediately.  The  singing  was  very  weak,  a  sure  sign  that 
the  people  here  are  new  to  the  whole  thing.  Such  numbers  of 
men,  with  curious,  sharp  eyes,  evidently  trying  to  make  it  all 
out  !  Some  of  them  bullet -headed,  black -handed,  rough 
fellows,  but  others  gentlemen,  or  at  least,  men  of  comfortable 
position,  with  their  coats  buttoned  about  them,  in  that  self- 
satisfied  way  they  have.  Frenchmen  have  such  a  look  about 
them  when  they  are  well-off !  It  says  as  plainly  as  words,  that 
they  are  full  of  this  world  ;  and  as  for  another  world, — well,  if 
any  one  has  anything  to  say  about  it,  they  will  listen,  but 
won't  promise  to  be  convinced.  Pastor  Hollard  give  such  a 
beautiful  address,  one  could  have  heard  a  pin  fall :  they  were 
riveted.  His  subject  was  the  Good  Samaritan.  He  drew  the 
picture,  and  then  applied  it.  'Do  you  know  the  wounded 
man  ]  It  is  you — and  I.  We  have  at  least  two  wounds,  one 
in  the  heart,  the  other  in  the  conscience ;'  and  I  do  think  that 
as  he  went  on,  the  most  self-satisfied  man  there  must  have 
owned  he  could  not  say  he  never  felt  the  smart  of  the  wounds. 
It  was  so  wisely  done, — in  appealing  to  what  they  could 
not  deny  as  human,  suffering,  fallible  beings,  and  then 
showing  them  Christ  as  the  only  remedy.  We  sang  again, 
and  Dr.  Appia  spoke  before  the  close." 

In  one  of  our  own  jails,  some  time  ago,  there  lay 


278  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

a  Romanist  under  sentence  of  death.  The  priest 
was  sent  for  "  to  prepare  him  for  his  fate,"  as  some 
say ;  to  help  him  "  to  make  his  peace  with  God," 
as  others  would ;  to  ''  fortify  him  with  the  rites  of 
the  Church,"  as  others  would ;  to  ''  administer  the 
consolations  of  religion,"  as  others  would.  The 
priest  failed.  ''  The  Church  "  was  nothing  to  the 
dying  criminal ;  her  "  ceremonies  "  he  did  not  care 
for ;  her  "  purgatory  "  he  did  not  believe  ;  and  her 
"  crucifix  "  was  an  idle  piece  of  brass  to  him.  The 
priest  exhausted  his  appliances ;  and  gave  up  in 
despair.  But  before  leaving  he  told  the  poor  man 
that  perhaps  a  Protestant  minister  could  do  or  say 
something  to  suit  his  case.  The  minister  came, 
and  told  the  guilty  man  the  story  of  the  Substitute, 
dying  "  the  just  for  the  unjust ;  "  and,  it  is  believed, 
not  in  vain. 

Some  of  the  Parisian  priests  seem  possessed 
with  the  same  feeling.  They  have  not  been  able  to 
do  anything  for  the  sinner  with  all  their  services 
and  masses.  They  feel  this,  and  are  not  disin- 
clined to  let  a  Protestant  minister  try  his  hand 
at  it. 

"  Shall  we  enter  these  halls?"  says  a  poor  ouvrier, 
who  has  not  broken  with  the  priesthood. 

"  Go,  if  you  like,"  says  the  priest ;  "  I  can  do  no 
more  for  you." 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present,     2  79 


''  Shall  I  reason  with  these  '  re-unionists'  ?  " 

"  Try,"  says  the  priest. 

"  Shall  I  receive  their  tracts  ?  " 

"  What  sort  of  tracts  are  they  ?  " 

"  There  is  one  on  the  evil  of  sin  and  the  blood 
of  Christ." 

"  Let  me  read  it." 

He  reads  it,  and  as  he  does,  he  remarks, — 

"  Nothing  against  the  Church  here ;  nothing 
against  the  Virgin  here ;  a  good  sort  of  tract  after 
all.      You  may  read  it,  if  you  like." 

"  May  I  read  their  gospels  ?  " 

''  I  won't  hinder  you ;  they  may  perhaps  do  you 
good." 

From  hints  we  have  got,  there  are  some  priests 
in  France  who,  in  their  hopelessness  as  to  doing 
anything  for  the  people,  are  not  indisposed  to  let 
them  do  as  they  like. 

"  One  of  our  lady- workers,"  says  Mr.  Dodds,  in  a  private 
letter,  "  stayed  with  a  lady,  now  dead,  who  was  a  devout 
Roman  Cathohc.  She  began  to  read  the  Bible  with  her,  and 
had  many  an  interesting  conversation  with  her  on  its  teaching 
and  meaning.  She  still,  however,  clung  to  her  religion,  and 
went  regularly  to  confession.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  she 
told  the  priest  that  she  was  reading  the  Bible.  He  replied 
that  she  was  doing  a  very  good  thing.  ^  What !'  she  said,  *  is 
not  that  forbidden  by  the  Church  ? '  He  replied,  '■  Oh,  that 
was  in  the  dark  Middle  Ages  long  ago  ;  you  are  free  to  read  it 
now.'     She  said,  *  But  I  am  reading  it  with  a  Protestant.' 


28o  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

*  Well,'  replied  the  cure,  '  a  Protestant  could  not  do  better  than 
read  that  Book  ;  you  will  get  nothing  bnt  what  is  good  from 
it.  This  shows  that  there  may  be,  indeed  that  there  are,  some 
secret  believers,  some  enlightened  Christians,  in  the  Romish 
Chnrch.  He  afterwards  expressed  a  great  desire  to  see  this 
Protestant  lady,  on  hearing  of  the  mission  work  she  was  engaged 
in,  speaking  warmly  in  admiration  of  the  work  that  was  being 
done,  and  of  the  sacrifice  and  self-denial  which  led  the  workers 
to  quit  their  native  countries,  and  devote  their  time  and  strength 
to  the  good  of  his  countrymen.  There  is  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  this  Roman  Catholic  lady  died  believing  in  Christ, 
and  that  the  labours  of  our  friend  were  blessed  to  the  conver- 
sion and  enlightenment  of  her  soul." 

"  On  Wednesday  I  went,"  Mr.  Dodds  writes  also,  "  to  the 
funeral  of  a  man  who  has  died  in  peace  ;  he  lived  just  above 
our  ^alU  at  St.  Antoine.  He  would  never  enter  our  meeting, 
any  more  than  a  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  was  strict  enough 
even  to  forbid  his  wife  going  to  confession.  She  was  a  regular 
attendant  at  our  meeting,  and  was  in  the  habit  of  taking  home 
the  tracts  and  books  she  got  there,  and  giving  them  to  her 
husband.  The  truth  seems  to  have  found  entrance  into  his 
heart.  He  fell  ill  in  the  month  of  November,  and  died  of  con- 
sumption. He  was  visited  by  one  of  our  workers,  whose  tender 
care  and  imfailing  sympathy  have  been  used  of  God  to  remove 
prejudices,  and  lead  him  to  Christ.  He  does  not  seem  to  have 
said  much,  but  he  never  wearied  (such  were  his  words)  of 
hearing  the  Bible  read,  and  of  prayer.  No  priest  came  near 
him,  but  one  of  his  relatives  paid  for  a  mass  to  be  said  in  the 
parish  church,  and  I  accompanied  the  funeral  there  to  witness 
the  solemn  mockery,  and  pretended  miracle,  of  tran substantia- 
tion. The  service  was  muttered  in  a  rapid  and  careless  under- 
tone, and  it  was  Avith  difficulty  that  I  could  make  out  even  a 
single  word.  The  moment  that  mass  was  finished,  the  priest 
turned  his  Ijack  and  left  tlie  mourners.  He  had  done  so  much 
because  he  had  been  paid  for  it,  and  to  accompany  them  to  the 


Miscellaneous:  Past  a7id Present.     281 

cemetery  was  the  last  thing  he  would  have  thought  of.  Some 
of  his  relatives, — his  wife  and  others, — who  had  not  wished  the 
mass,  and  could  not  offer  opposition,  had  asked  me  to  go  to  the 
cemetery,  and  conduct  a  service  at  the  grave.  This  I  was  glad 
to  do,  as  it  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  preaching  the  Gospel, 
and  testifying  to  its  power.  It  was  a  privilege  to  turn  the 
thoughts  of  the  bystanders  to  Christ,  as  the  Saviour  from  sin 
and  from  death,  and  to  repeat  his  dying  words,  '  I  trust  in  the 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  am  happy.'  He  had  been  a  valiant 
soldier,  and  on  the  pall  there  hung  two  medals,  one  of  them 
being  from  our  Queen,  for  his  bravery  in  the  Crimean  war. 
He  died  before  he  had  time  to  fight  under  another  banner, 
but  not  before  he  had  left  a  witness  behind  him  of  his  alle- 
giance to  the  King  of  kings.  We  have  reason  to  believe  that 
his  wife  has  found  in  her  deep  sorrow  a  consolation  that  not 
only  endures  but  increases. 

"  This  man  is  only  a  type  of  many  of  the  more  intelligent 
men  in  Paris,  and  throughout  the  cities  of  France.  They  are 
infidels  or  sceptics,  because  they  have  no  regard  for,  but  rather 
hatred  against,  the  Church  of  Rome,  or  because  they  are 
ignorant  of  the  Gospel,  and  have  never  read  the  Bible,  One 
needs  to  see  the  effects  and  working  of  this  false  religion  in  its 
own  haunts,  in  order  to  understand  its  subtlety  and  power, 
and  to  realise  that  it  is  not  controversy  or  discussion,  or  pas- 
sionate denunciation  of  its  method  and  character  which  will 
overthrow  it,  but  the  simple  preaching  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
the  power  of  the  written  Word,  and  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit." 

Perhaps  one  of  the  most  notable  features  in  this 
movement  is  its  steady  progression  ;  not  merely  in 
the  number  of  stations  ;  not  merely  in  the  increase 
of  attendance ;  but  in  the  spiritual  results  which 
have  attended  it.      Nearly  eight  years  has  it  gone 


282  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

on,  and  the  interest  has  not  slackened.  The  attrac- 
tiveness of  the  true  cross  has  been  proved  ;  and  the 
power  of  the  Gospel  to  save  has  been  exhibited  at 
all  the  different  stations.  Ever}^  worker  has  some- 
thing to  report,  either  among  old  or  young.  The 
free  love  of  God  makes  its  way  wondrously  into 
unlikely  hearts,  and  takes  captive  unlikely  natures. 
Men  listen  and  wonder,  and  yield  to  the  declaration 
of  a  grace  which  they  had  never  heard  of  before, 
and  which  they  had  never  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  religion  at  all. 

Writing  towards  the  end  of  last  year  (1878),  Mr. 
Dodds  thus  relates  his  experience  : — 

"  I  never  knew  of  so  many,  as  during  these  past  few  weeks, 
coming  to  me  even  here,  as  well  as  at  the  meetings,  seeking 
counsel.  Yesterday  was  '  La  Toussaint,'  when  the  people  visit 
the  cemeteries  in  great  numbers,  to  mourn  for  their  dead.  We 
had  our  meeting  at  Menilmontant,  at  three  in  the  afternoon, 
and  got  many  in  to  hear  the  Gospel.  Signor  P.'s  address 
was  in  his  best  vein,  so  tender  and  true,  and  I  felt  there  was 
good  done.  A  man  lately  come  to  Paris,  who  found  out  this 
meeting  '  by  chance,'  has,  we  trust,  found  peace.  He  and  his 
wife  come  from  Belgium.  He  attended  yesterday  both  after- 
noon and  evening.  He  read  that  little  tract  '  Conliance,' 
which  I  re-wrote  from  one  of  Moody's,  and  it  was  blessed  to 
him.  He  is  now  inquiring  about  a  pastor,  and  about  schools 
for  his  children.  Last  night  a  young  man  asked  if  he  might 
speak,  and  gave  a  most  happy  and  convincing  testimony.  In 
private  he  has  told  me  much  of  his  past  life.  Four  months 
ago,  he  came  to  Rivoli  station,  a  sceptic,  a  lover  of  the  world 
and  its  pleasures.     A  week  ago  he  said  to  me,  '  I  cannot  say 


Miscellafieous :  Past  and  Present.      283 

much,  but  I  have  got  a  joy  which  I  never  knew  before  ;  that 
is  all  I  can  say  yet.'  Judge,  then,  of  my  surprise  last  night, 
when  he  stood  up  and  told  us  so  boldly,  but  modestly,  of  his 
firm  assurance  that  Christ  had  saved  his  soul,  and  of  the  peace 
this  assurance  gave  him.  Last  Monday  a  man  told  me  at  the 
close  of  the  reunion^  that  he  had  only  come  at  the  entreaty  of 
a  man  whom  he  had  only  known  for  a  week,  when  they  were 
patients  together  in  the  hospital.  He  had  since  died,  and  his 
dying  request  was  that  this  man  should  go  to  Gare  d'lvry, 
where  he  himself  used  to  hear  what  did  him  good.  I  was  the 
more  struck  by  this,  that  the  poor  man  was  totally  ignorant 
of  what  the  Gospel  meant.  I  am  deeply  interested  in  some 
people  at  Grenelle,  that  worst  of  all  quarters.  On  Sabbath 
evenings  we  generally  have  there  between  two  and  three 
hundred  people.  The  Lord  is  indeed  blessing  us.  Our 
evangelist,  M.  S.,  has  good  hopes  of  a  young  woman  who  has 
lately  been  stirred  up  to  seek  the  Lord.  Not  long  ago  he  had 
a  letter  from  a  teacher  in  the  Haute  Savoie,  a  Eonian  Catholic 
district,  telling  how  he  had  come  into  the  Salle  Evangelique 
one  day,  had  heard  the  Gospel  and  received  some  tracts,  and 
been  spoken  with  at  the  close ;  now  he  writes  to  ask  for  counsel, 
telling  of  the  peace  he  lias  found  in  Jesus." 

"  Fools "  and  "  foolishness  "  seem  to  have  been 
Avords  freely  used  at  Corinth  of  old  in  connection 
with  the  Gospel  and  the  cross.  To  them  the 
apostle  makes  frequent  reference  in  his  epistles  to 
the  church  in  that  city.  In  this  respect,  I  suppose, 
Paris  and  Corinth  are  very  much  alike. 

"  I  see  you  are  become  a  fool,"  said  an  unbeliev- 
ing friend  to  one  of  the  converts ;  "  and  we  must 
look  out  for  an  asylum  for  you." 


284  The  White  Fields  of  Finance. 

Such  was  the  close  of  a  long  conversation,  carried 
far  into  the  night,  by  the  friend  just  referred  to. 
The  believing  man  was  visited  by  an  associate  of 
other  days,  distinguished  in  literature  and  science. 
The  change  lately  produced  was  the  subject  of  con- 
verse between  them ;  and  the  difference  in  their 
sentiments  was  soon  found  to  be  immense.  It  was- 
the  discovery  of  this  difference,  and  the  Christian's 
simple  avowal  of  his  faith  in  the  salvation  of  the 
Son  of  God,  that  drew  out  the  taunt,  "I  see  you 
are  become  a  fool." 

Yes ;  he  was  a  fool  to  be  saved  so  cheaply,  and 
with  so  little  honour  to  himself !  He  was  a  fool, 
fit  only  for  an  asylum,  to  adopt  a  religion  at  all,  as 
a  thing  of  certainty  and  earnestness.  Better  no 
religion  ;  but  at  least  a  religion  that  will  do  some 
credit  to  a  man  of  science,  and  be  worthy  of  the 
human  intellect  !  It  is  the  same  story  now  in 
France,  as  in  Greece  of  old. 

The  good  man  was  troubled  for  a  moment  at 
being  thus  addressed  ;  but  he  went  to  "  the  Word," 
and  his  trouble  passed  away.  He  was  content  to 
be  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake. 

Among  these  fragments  I  must  give  the  following 
extract  from  the  journal  of  M.  Pointet  regarding  the 
Bible-carriage  which,  filled  with  precious  stores, 
moves  about   from  town  to  town,  from  village  to 


Miscellaneous  :  Past  and  Present.     285 

village,  and  from  fair  to  fair.  It  does  not  directly 
connect  itself  with  the  Paris  Mission,  but  it  is 
strikingly  illustrative  of  the  work  going  on  in  the 
land,  and  is  helping  greatly  to  whiten  the  fields  of 
France  : — 

" '  The  fair  of  Dun  le  Roi,  where  I  had  aheacly  been,  and 
was  very  much  pleased,  was  good.  In  spite  of  snow  and  rain, 
which  fell  heavily,  and  my  cold,  which  was  at  its  height,  I 
remained  working  four  and  a-half  hours,  having,  happily,  an 
abundant  supply  of  books.  At  the  most  busy  moment  I  felt 
the  carriage  fall  forward  ;  Cocote  (the  horse),  worn  out  with 
fatigue,  had  fallen  her  full  length  in  the  mud  and  across  the 
shaft.  She  struggled  up,  but  fell  again  on  the  other  side.  As 
I  had  only  the  smallest  amount  of  standing  room,  by  reason  of 
the  stores  of  books,  &c.,  I  had  great  difficulty  in  disengaging 
myself,  and  was  in  fear  of  breaking  my  legs,  but  got  out  just 
in  time  to  save  another  fall  and  set  the  poor  animal  on  her 
legs,  but  when  taken  to  the  stable  she  could  neither  eat  nor 
drink.  I  returned  a  good  deal  upset,  but  was  rejoiced  to  see 
half-a-dozen  hands  held  out,  waiting  their  turn.  I  do  not 
know  a  greater  joy,  and  my  wife  and  I  thanked  the  Lord. 
One  good  woman  came  to  buy  a  large  New  Testament ;  all 
crowded  round  her  to  know  what  was  in  it.  Giving  an  expres- 
sive shrug,  she  said  good-humouredly,  "  It  speaks  about  the 
Republic,"  with  the  air  of  one  who  thought  it  was  her  rightful 
business.  I  turned  to  the  crowd  in  a  moment,  and  said, 
"  These  books  do  not  speak  about  the  Republic,  but  of  that 
which  is,  nevertheless,  not  opposed  to  it  ;  it  speaks  of  happi- 
ness, of  free  citizenship  ;  but  to  be  truly  free  and  happy,  one 
must  have  peace  of  mind.  0  good  people,  to  make  a  first-rate 
carriage,  you  must  have  the  best  iron  and  wood  ;  and  to  be 
good  Republicans,  you  must  be  true  Christians." 

" '  At  Nerondes,  in  spite  of  the  heavy  snow,  the  peasants 


286  TJie  White  Fields  of  France. 

crowded  around  tlie  carriage,  and  bought  with  great  interest. 
"  Where  is  your  market,  Mr.  Innkeeper  ?  "  I  said.  "  Oh, 
it  is  nothing  ;  don't  go  there."  I  went,  however,  in  spite 
of  the  cold  and  the  piercing  north-east  wind.  Entering  the 
courtyard  of  the  Largest  hotel,  the  host  advanced,  a  comfortable- 
looking  man  of  forty  ;  there  are  so  many  such  in  France.  I 
breakfast  in  the  hotel,  going  out  at  three  in  the  morning,  and 
often  not  returning  till  night,  when  I  find  myself  again  seated 
in  the  chimney  corner  by  a  blazing  log.  We  talk  of  one  thing 
and  another,  and  at  last  of  the  cures,  when,  innkeeper  though 
he  be,  he  exclaimed,  "  I'll  have  no  more  to  do  with  them  ; 
they  teach  us  lies,  and  don't  believe  them  themselves."  At 
this  same  market  of  Baugy,  what  eagerness  there  was  to  buy 
our  large  ]^rew  Testaments  !  It  was  a  grand  day.  All  came, 
and  wanted  the  book.  This  work  over,  I  led  the  horse  into 
the  sunshine,  and  went  to  the  nearest  .cafe  for  a  cup  of  coffee. 
We  often  do  this,  that  they  may  not  be  able  to  say  we  are 
avaricious  and  only  working  for  gain.  Eeturning,  I  found  a 
number  of  my  customers  around  a  large  store,  and  began  to 
talk  to  them.  I  was  struck  with  the  number  who  did  not 
believe  in  the  existence  of  God,  or  of  their  own  soul.' 

"  Again  he  writes,  '  Notwithstanding  all  the  discomforts 
attendant  on  a  work  of  this  kind,  our  enthusiasm  continually 
increases.  We  are  cheerful  and  happy,  and  praise  the  Master 
for  permitting  us  to  forsake  our  home,  and,  carrying  our  furni- 
ture with  us,  to  travel  summer  and  winter,  from  town  to  town. 
We  should  think  ourselves  for  ever  dishonoured  if  the  question 
were  raised  of  our  settling  down  again  in  a  fixed  home.  Faith 
transforms  everything  ;  all  is  changed  in  passing  through  the 
Divine  laboratoiy.' 

"  We  find  him  in  May  in  Orleans,  where,  as  he  says,  he  had 
*  more  to  fear  from  his  tongue  than  from  Bishop  or  police.' 
The  sale  went  on  briskly,  and  at  nine  o'clock  at  night  there 
were  more  than  500  people  round  the  carriage.  '  But  Satan 
and  his  emissaries  were  there  too,'  he  writes,  '  and  menacing 


Miscellaneotis :  Past  and  Present.     287 

threats  were  hurled  at  me.  A  few  energetic  words  stilled 
them  for  a  moment,  only  to  begin  again  with  renewed  force. 
One  man,  half  a  gentleman,  shouted  with  a  loud  voice,  "  They 
are  not  crying  out  at  your  hooks,  but  because  you  are  a  liar, 
and  have  done  nothing  but  lie  since  you  stood  there."  At  this 
speech  more  than  200  voices  shrieked  and  howled,  and  a  dozen 
rough  fellows  laid  hold  of  the  carriage  to  overturn  it.  I  was, 
happily,  able  to  jump  out.  In  the  midst  of  the  confusion  a 
big  man  stepped  forward,  seized  my  hand,  and  in  a  stentorian 
voice,  which  silenced  the  crowd,  exclaimed,  "  I  am  a  Catholic, 
but  I  thank  you  ;  you  are  a  good  man,  and  I  thank  you  for 
your  words  of  truth.  You  try  to  enlighten  us,  but  they  will 
not  understand."  Kever  was  such  testimony  less  expected  or 
more  welcome.  For  hours  this  young  man  had  the  courage  to 
uphold  me  and  my  work.  I  remounted  my  carriage,  and 
addressed  the  Jesuit,  challenging  him  to  prove  me  a  liar. 
He  replied  that  it  was  false  that  the  cur6s  denied  the  Scrip- 
tures to  the  people.  "  The  laws  of  the  Church  'pcrmiiUd  it." 
"  Indeed  !"  said  I  ;  "then  your  ignorance  is  as  great  as  your 
bad  faith."  More  followed,  and  for  days  I  half  expected  a 
visit  from  the  police,  but,  happily,  none  had  been  present.' 

"  At  another  gate  of  the  city  he  was  accosted  by  a  man  who 
said  he  must  be  more  moderate.  '  In  what  way  ?'  he  asked. 
*  Why,  you  say  the  Pope  here,  and  the  Pope  there.'  *  You 
heard  me  say  that,  did  you  %  take  care,  or  you  will  do  as  the 
liars  do.' 

"  Thus  exposed  to  calumny  and  violence,  '  It  is  necessary,' 
he  writes,  '■  to  be  careful  not  only  of  what  one  says,  but  of  what 
one  does  not  say.  Ours  is  a  strange  work,  from  one  extreme  to 
the  other :  some  days  full  of  encouragement  and  blessing, 
others  when  one's  words  fall  as  if  on  hard,  polished  marble, 
awakening  no  response  or  sympathy.' 

" '  I  always  try  to  begin  my  remarks  with  something  original. 
As  the  people  crowded  around  me,  I  said  to  them,  "  Wliat  is 
it  that  man  needs,  to  go  through  life  ?    Good  bread,  the  best 


The  White  Fields  of  France. 


wine,  plenty  of  gold  and  silver  ;  what  more  can  he  want  % 
Ah  !  you  may  well  laugh,  for  you  know  that  it  is  possible  to  be 
miserable  as  well  as  rich  ;  there  are  plenty  of  suicides  among 
the  rich.  What,  then,  does  man  really  need  ?  Tlu  Truth.  He 
was  made  by  God,  and  for  God,  and  apart  from  Him  there  is 
no  peace  nor  happiness.  There  is  a  Book  which  will  tell  you 
what  you  must  do.  Eemember  Him  who  has  said,  "  Without 
me  you  can  do  nothing."  I  began  my  sale,  and  in  about  an 
hour  had  disposed  of  at  least  fifty  New  Testaments,  till, 
unhappily,  my  stock  was  exhausted.'  " 

The  Mission  efforts  have  not  been  confined  to 
Parisians  or  Frenchmen.  They  have  embraced  all 
who  could  be  approached  :  not  only  the  nations 
congregated  at  the  great  Exhibition,  but  those 
members  of  them  permanently  resident  in  Paris, 
such  as  the  English  and  German  artisans.  The 
classes  for  the  English  have  been  already  noticed  ; 
but  the  Mission  has  not  overlooked  the  Germans ; 
and  Mr.  Dodds  has  been  able  to  gather  a  German 
meeting,  which  prospers  wonderfully.  It  is  strange 
that  in  Paris  at  this  moment,  all  kinds  of  efforts 
seem  to  succeed  ;  as  if  some  unknown  and  unex- 
plained influence  were  at  work  throughout  the  whole 
city,  drawing  men's  hearts  towards  faith  and  truth ; 
so  that  whatever  is  done  is  sure  to  succeed  so  far ; 
failure  in  plans  for  good  being  exceptional  and  rare. 
The  following  is  the  statement  by  Mr.  Bodds,  as  to 
the  German  meeting  : — 

"  At  the  commencement  of  the  Mission,  some  work  was  done 


Aliscellaiieous  :  Past  and  Present.      289 

among  the  English  workmen  in  the  quarter  of  Montmartre. 
This  has  since  been  taken  \\^  by  other  friends,  and,  until  very 
lately,  the  work  of  the  Mission  has  been  wholly  among  the 
French.  Now  we  have  added  a  meeting  for  Germans.  Many 
speaking  the  German  language  have  come  to  Paris  from  Alsace 
and  Lorraine,  and  there  are  also  not  a  few  from  Hesse  and 
Prussia.  The  quarter  where  we  have  opened  this  meeting  is 
La  Villette,  and  the  name  of  the  street  is  '  Eue  d'Allemagne ' 
{i.e.,  Germany  Street  ! )  M.  Vischer  Sarrasin,  of  Bale,  has 
kindly  sent  us  a  number  of  hymn-books,  many  of  the  hymns 
being  translations  from  the  English.  From  other  friends  we 
have  gathered  a  small  library,  and  begun  a  meeting  once  a- week. 
It  has  gone  on  increasing,  till  it  has  risen  to  above  seventy 
persons.  One  asked  for  special  prayer  not  long  ago,  and  others 
have  asked  eagerly  for  the  loan  of  Bibles.  The  German  pastors, 
and  several  German  laymen  give  most  hearty  help  in  this  little 
effort,  which  we  ask  the  readers  of  the  Quarterly  to  remember 
in  their  prayers." 

Another  fragment  we   give  in  the  shape   of  an 
extract  from  a  workman's  letter,  dated  Paris  : — 

"  For  some  time  I  have  been  a  little  better  ;  my  employer 
wishes  me  to  work,  or  he  will  send  me  away  from  the  factory. 
I  am  so  weak  that  I  can  never  finish  my  day's  work.  I  do  not 
gain  much  money,  but  I  am  always  happy,  because  I  belong 
to  Christ.  On  the  Sundays,  when  I  am  not  too  tired,  I  go  to 
the  meeting.  To-day  I  have  remained  the  whole  day  in  bed, 
meditating  there  on  the  Holy  Book.  It  is  truly  the  comfort  of 
the  poor  and  suffering.  Would  that  it  were  known  and  read 
by  every  one  !  I  learn  from  the  newspapers  that  bold  and 
earnest  missionaries  from  England  are  preaching  the  Gospel  in 
all  lands,  and  even  at  Eome. 

"  In  all  the  workshops  at  Paris,  the  Protestants  are  well 
spoken  of,  and  nothing  but  evil  of  the  priests. 

U 


290  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"I  Kke  to  think,  that  some  day  God  will  have  as  many 
Christians  in  France  as  in  foreign  lands.  This  is  my  most 
earnest  desire. — Yours  truly  in  Jesus  Christ,    E P ." 

There  is  a  work  going  on  in  the  French  metro- 
polis, almost  as  various,  though  not  so  vast,  as  in 
the  great  cities  of  our  own  land.  Benevolent  and 
religious  schemes  are  conducted  by  self-denying 
Christians,  who,  without  the  ostentation  of  the  nun 
or  the  monk  or  the  priest,  are  daily  moving  about 
in  their  quiet  offices  of  mercy,  doing  a  truer  work,, 
and  asking  no  praise.  Their  influence  is  felt  by 
the  community,  while  they  themselves  remain  un- 
seen. Their  words  penetrate  and  transform;  not 
by  reason  of  their  vehemence,  but  by  the  calm 
sincerity  with  which  they  are  uttered. 

The  enterprise  is  quite  a  peculiar  one,  and  the 
success  has  been  as  peculiar.  The  method  adopted 
is  not  in  the  ordinary  run  of  missions  or  missionary 
work :  save  that  it  takes  for  granted  that  the 
Gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation. 

What  should  we  say  if  two  or  three  zealous 
Frenchmen  were  to  come  to  London  and  start 
twenty-three  meetings  in  different  parts  of  our 
metropolis?  What  should  we  say  if  these  meet- 
ings were  all  successful ;  every  hall  filled  with  the 
working-men  of  the  city  and  its  suburbs?  And 
what  should  we  say  if  these  meetings,  instead  of 


Miscellaneous:  Past  a7id  Present.     291 

losing  their  attractiveness,  during  eight  years,  in- 
creased both  in  interest  and  in  numbers  ?  Should 
we  not  be  amazed?  Would  not  all  London  be 
stirred  to  ask.  What  is  it  all  about  ? 

The  phenomenon  now  exhibited  in  Paris  is  just 
such  as  the  above ;  and  though  it  does  not  directly 
concern  us,  shall  we  not  be  led  to  ask,  What  does 
this  mean?  Nay,  more,  shall  we  not  be  led  to 
something  more  practical  than  bare  inquiry,  and 
hasten  to  the  help  of  the  overburdened  labourers, 
chiefly  our  own  kinsmen,  in  that  foreign  city  ? 

No  mission  has  ever  been  carried  on  so  cheaply 
as  Mr.  M'All's.  The  smallness  of  the  cost  is  quite 
amazing.  But,  then,  one  reason  of  this  is  the 
amount  of  self-sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  workers ; 
not  one  of  whom  receives  anything  like  adequate 
remuneration  for  his  services.  This  state  of  things, 
however,  cannot  last  always ;  and  the  Mission  must 
be  put  upon  a  less  uncertain  footing.  We  must 
remember  that  our  responsibilities  are  not  exhausted 
in  our  admiration  of  the  work,  and  praise  of  the 
self-denying  labours  of  the  workers.  A  decided 
and  energetic  effort  must  be  made  to  establish  the 
Mission  securely  and  permanently.  And  the  sooner 
the  better. 

In  speaking  of  the  Mission  generally,  I  would 
remind   the   reader   of   its    double    character ; — to 


292  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

young  as  well  as  old.  That  to  the  young  stands 
greatly  in  need  of  help.  From  nearly  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Parisian  work,  the  claims  of  the 
young  had  engaged  the  attention  of  Mr.  M'All.  Mr. 
Heriot  entered  on  a  work  which  had  been  vigorously 
prosecuted  previously  by  Mrs.  M'All  and  Madame 
Rouilly.  That  sphere  of  labour  demands  vigorous 
effort.  It  is  so  important,  so  interesting,  and  so 
large.  And  we  at  home  are  bound  to  consider  how 
we  can  best  help  it  forward. 

Everywhere  throughout  Paris  we  find  Christian 
work  going  on  in  some  form  or  other.  The  city 
seems  just  now  to  resemble  a  vast  old  quarry  newly 
reopened,  where  the  different  levels  and  strata  show 
themselves ;  and  the  immensity  of  the  work  to  be 
done  is  beginning  to  be  understood.  The  workmen 
are  few  and  scattered ;  some  in  little  groups,  some 
single ;  perched  here  and  there  on  heights,  or  hidden 
in  fissures ;  carrying  on  the  tedious  work  of  digging, 
or  splitting,  or  carrying  off  the  stones  to  their  destined 
position  in  some  house,  or  palace,  or  temple. 

"  Speed  boldly,  Jean,  my  son,  speed  boldly ;  the 
safety  of  God's  elect  depends  upon  thy  speed." 

It  was  a  French  peasant  woman,  two  hundred 
years  ago,  that  is  said  to  have  spoken  these  words 
to  her  little  boy  of  ten  one  morning  at  the  door 
of  a  cottage  which  faced  a  gorge  of  the  Cevennes. 


Miscellaneotts :  Past  and  Present.     293 

She  knew  that  five  hundred  of  the  persecuted  were 
to  meet  for  worship  that  day  among  the  mountains; 
and  her  boy  had,  from  a  high  rock,  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  soldiers  in  march  to  surprise  the  congrega- 
tion. She  knew  that  he  could  reach  the  hiding- 
place  by  ways  which  the  soldiers  knew  not ;  and 
without  a  moment's  delay  she  despatched  him  up 
the  cliffs,  with  the  words,  ''Speed  boldly,  Jean, 
speed  boldly." 

It  is  into  this  land  of  the  persecuted  that  the 
Gospel  has  again  come  in  power,  and  is  working  its 
way  through  the  nation.      Is  it  to  be  turned  back, 
or  is  it  to  be  "  resurrection  from  the  dead,"  to  the 
cities   and   villages,    where   once   it  was   so  widely 
accepted  ?     The  crisis  is  a  momentous  one,  and  the 
urgency  is  great.      There  is  need  of  haste,  lest  the 
opportunity  be  lost,  and  the  enemy  rush  in  to  undo 
all  that  has  been  done.      "  Speed  boldly,"  then,  is 
the  message  to  the  present  labourers ;   "  the  safety 
of  God's  elect  depends  upon  your  speed ;  "  lose  not 
a  moment.     The  work  is  great,  the  time  is  short, 
and  the   enemy  is  on  the  watch.      How  long   his 
wrath  may  be  curbed,  and  how  long  the  earth  may 
continue  to  ''  help  the  woman,"  we  dare  not  fore- 
cast.     Precious  is  the  present  season,  and  wonderful 
the  openings  on  every  side.      This  season  must  not 
be  lost ;  these  opportunities  must  be  seized  at  once. 


294  ^/^^  White  Fields  of  France. 

France's  day  of  blessing  may  be  also  Europe's  day; — 
Europe  armed  to  the  teeth  for  war,  and  hopeless  of 
peace, — Europe  disintegrated  everywhere  by  in- 
fidelity and  socialism  and  ungodliness  and  lawless- 
ness,— Europe,  that  in  the  persons  of  her  princes 
and  statesmen,  is  trying  every  method  to  keep  down 
the  dreaded  outburst, — except  the  one, — the  only 
one, — that  could  accomplish  the  end,  the  Gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God. 

Unsought  for,  this  one  healing  influence  has 
found  its  way  into  Paris,  and  shown  that  it  is  a 
power  in  the  earth,  a  power  among  nations,  a  power 
of  which  rulers,  if  they  were  wise,  would,  without 
delay,  avail  themselves ;  not  to  bridle  the  waves, 
but  to  still  them ;  not  to  chain  their  peoples,  but 
to  put  them  in  possession  of  a  liberty  which,  instead 
of  overturning  thrones,  would  establish  them ;  a 
liberty  which,  instead  of  letting  loose  human 
passions,  would  transform  them  into  the  mutual 
confidence  and  kindness  between  man  and  man. 
Paris  has  already  felt  the  tranquillising  influence  of 
the  Gospel.  Shall  not  all  Europe  feel  it  too  ?  The 
effects  of  the  present  evangelical  movement  on  the 
kingdoms  of  the  Continent  may  be  far  wider  than 
men  are  disposed  to  believe.  France  has  for  a 
hundred  years  been  the  maelstrom  which  has  kept 
Europe  in  unceasing  whirl.     If  the  Book  of  peace, 


Miscellaneo2ts :  Past  and  Present.     295 

cast  into  this  vortex,   shall   arrest   its   eddies,  the 
results  will  be  felt  beyond  both  Rhine  and  Danube. 

SECTION  VI. 
The  Hymnology. 

I  know  the  Latin  hymns  of  the  Church  of  Rome ; 
and  I  am  aware  of  the  high  praises  lavished  on  them 
by  their  advocates  and  admirers  in  Protestant  lands 
and  Churches.  Indeed,  the  eulogies  bestowed  on 
them  by  sesthetic  outsiders  are  much  higher  than 
those  of  Romanists  themselves. 

I  mean  neither  to  praise  nor  dispraise  them. 
My  object  in  referring  to  them  has  no  reference  to 
their  merits. 

What  I  mean  to  say  in  connection  with  them  is 
that  they  are  in  a  dead  language,  and  are  not 
understood  by  the  millions  of  France,  peasant  or 
citizen,  in  the  parish  church  or  the  cathedral. 
Many  of  the  priests  themselves,  who  chant  them 
daily,  know  nothing  of  their  meaning. 

In  such  a  case,  there  can  be  no  worship  except 
that  of  the  organ  and  the  unintelligible  sounds  : 
if  these  can  be  called  by  that  name.  Religion  is 
reduced  to  a  performance, — service  done  by  proxy, 
and  supposed  to  be  accepted  by  God,  because  acted 


296  The  White  Fields  of  Fra7ice. 

canonically  by  accredited  priestly  performers,  who  have 
undertaken  the  responsibilities  of  the  worshipper. 

The  hymns  of  the  Paris  Mission  are  not  of  this 
kind,  nor  devised  for  such  purposes.  They  are 
meant  to  be  joined  in  by  the  audience ;  and  are,  of 
course,  understood  by  those  who  sing  them.  They 
are  not  sounds  to  be  listened  to,  but  words  to  be 
sung ;  not  musical  notes  to  produce  a  physical 
impression,  but  true  utterances  of  the  soul,  in  which 
all  the  singers  join, — fitted  to  lift  the  soul  to  God. 

This  is  a  new  thing  for  the  ouvriers  of  France. 
They  can  understand  all  that  is  said ;  they  can  join 
in  all  that  is  sung.  This  part  of  the  E-oman  bond- 
age is  now  laid  bare.  The  Church  had  doomed 
them  not  to  comprehend  a  word  of  its  worship  :  or 
rather  it  had  made  worship  impossible.  But  the 
chain  is  breaking ;  the  bondage  of  the  unknown 
tongue  is  disappearing ;  and  ''  liberty  of  worship," 
in  this  sense  as  well  as  in  others,  is  beginning  to  be 
known.  Few  think  of  this  part  of  the  old  bondage  ; 
or  are  alive  to  the  profanity  that  thus  indirectly 
but  effectually  closes  the  lips  of  worshippers. 

The  reaction  from  this,  no  doubt,  is  at  present 
telling  upon  Paris.  Men  see  the  difference  between 
listening  to  a  performer,  as  if  they  were  at  a  cafe 
chantant,  and  taking  part  in  sacred  song.  A  church 
is  not  a  theatre  nor  an  02:)era.      Prayer  and  praise 


Miscellafzeous :  Past  and  Present.     297 

are  things  personal  to  each  worshipper.  Kome  has 
always  denied  this,  offering  to  undertake  the  praises 
of  the  worshipper  as  well  as  the  responsibilities  of 
the  sinner ;  and  France  has  hitherto  been  one  of 
the  nations  that  have  been  content  to  listen  to  the 
musical  performances  of  Rome,  and  to  accept  its 
offer  of  performing  religion  for  her. 

These  Mission  cantiques  have  suggested  the 
question  to  thousands,  ought  we  not  personally  to 
take  part  in  religious  service  ? 

It  is  not  merely  that  the  hymns  are  pleasant,  and 
the  tunes  soothing ;  there  is  something  deeper  than 
this,  in  the  influence  which  they  are  exercising  both 
in  the  house  and  in  the  reunion  salle.  They 
have  led  to  the  discovery  that  the  people  themselves 
have  a  true  part  in  worship,  from  which  the  tyranny 
of  Romish  sacerdotalism  has  shut  them  out.  They 
are  entitled  to  worship  God,  each  one  for  himself. 

Of  the  hymns  we  have  already  given  several 
specimens.  But  we  must  ask  our  readers  to  get 
copies  of  the  hymn-book  for  themselves,  and  to 
practise  the  singing  in  their  families.  Even  with  a 
slight  knowledge  of  French  the  hymns  can  easily  be 
followed;  and  the  alternation  of  a  French  and 
English  cantique  is  as  lively  as  it  is  pleasant,  round 
the  Sabbath  evening  fireside  or  table. 

From  the  Reformation  era,  the  French  Protestants 


298  The  White  Fields  of  France, 

had  given  both  hymns  and  psalms  a  place  in  public 
worship ;  and  the  different  editions  of  their  Psalter, 
with  the  music,  are  innumerable.  Some  ten  or 
twelve  of  these  small  volumes, — so  far  back  as  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century, — are  in  our 
possession :  and  there  have  always  been  French 
Protestant  hymns  down  to  our  own  day."^  The 
noble  volume  of  Felix  Bovet,  "  Histoire  du  Psautier 
des  Eglises  E^formees,"  published  in  Paris  in  1872, 
gives  the  largest  amount  of  information  that  has 
been  given  in  connection  with  any  psalter.  He 
gives  a  complete  list  of  the  various  editions,  begin- 
ning with  the  year  1541,  and  ending  with  1870. 
They  are  800  in  all.  In  1837,  there  appeared 
an  article  in  a  well-known  religious  periodical, — 
Le  Semeur,  on  ''  Hymnology  in  France."  This  I 
have  not  seen.  But  the  following  paragraph  from 
it,  quoted  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Csesar  Malan,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  hymns  of  that  revered  divine,  is  worth 
quoting  here  : — "  Among  ourselves,  with  the  revival 
of  faith  has  come  the  revival  of  its  song ;  and  that, 
too,  after  a  silence  of  more  than  a  hundred  years. 
God    has    taught   His  servants   to   perpetuate   the 

*  A  French  priest  attempted  a  volume  of  hymns,  under  the  title 
of  "  Cantiques  de  I'Ame  devote,"  in  1786.  His  name  was  Durand  ; 
and,  strange  to  say,  he  has  set  his  verses  to  common  tunes, — "  accom- 
mod^s  i  des  airs  vulgaires."  Part  of  his  volume  is  filled  up  with 
the  usual  Latin  hymns  for  the  seasons  and  festivals. 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     299 

language  of  His  praise,  and  has  given  them  new 
hymns  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  truly 
Christian  poet.  M.  Malan  has  reawakened  the 
lay.  His  hymns  belong  already  to  history,  because 
they  have  interwoven  themselves,  and  while  the 
revival  lasts,  will  interweave  themselves  with  the 
joys  and  sorrows  of  the  Church."  '"" 

The  hymnology  of  the  Mission  is  thus  one  of  its 
most  important  and  effective  parts,  and  the  cantiques 
loopulaires,  with  their  lively  tunes,  are  doing  im- 
mense service,  carrying  the  Gospel,  as  on  the  wings 
of  a  gentle  breeze,  into  every  recess  of  the  city;  not 
only  drawing  out  the  crowd  to  listen  to  the  happy 
melodies,  but  sending  it  back  laden  with  the  Divine 
truth  to  which  these  melodies  are  joined.  The 
songs  go  everywhere ;  and  with  them  the  truth 
goes  everywhere.  Can  Rome  meet  this  irresistible 
influence?  Hearts  are  taken  captive,  and  minds 
instructed ;  and  men  ask,  How  have  we  never  seen 
all  this  before  ? 

The  Mission  hymns  are  most  suitable  to  their 
purpose,  both  in  tone  and  in  substance.  They  are  not 
frivolous  nor  jaunty,  like  some  of  our  English  ones. 
They  are  cheerful  but  solemn.  They  do  not  sacrifice 
sense  to  sound  or  rhyme.  They  are  tasteful  as 
well  as  thoughtful,  with  more  of  a  classic  air  about 

*  "Life  and  Labours  of  Caesar  Malan,"  p.  183. 


300  The  White  Fields  of  Fra^ice. 

them  than  is  usual  with  revival  hymns ;  yet  simple 
and  direct ;  filled  with  Bible  truth,  and  conveying 
the  good  news  in  many  a  varied  form.  They  are 
not  "  full  of  sound  and  fury,"  and  they  all  "  signify 
something."  The  first  selection  was  found  too 
small ;  and  a  larger  one  was  published  :  of  which 
there  is  preparing  a  new  and  cheaper  edition,  in  a 
stronger  binding  to  withstand  the  peculiar  usage  of 
the  Parisian  oiivrier,  who  invariably  doubles  bach 
his  hymn-book,  when  he  employs  it  in  singing. 

Some  of  the  hymns  are  translations ;  a  large 
number  are  new.  Mr.  M'AU  himself  has  no  les& 
than  thirty-eight  of  his  own;  M.  Saillens,  forty- 
three  ;  the  other  hymn-writers  contributed  fewer ; 
but  among  these  sweet  singers  appear  the  names 
of  three  Monods.  A  glance  at  the  Table  Alpha- 
betique  will  show  the  variety,  both  in  hymns  and 
hymnists. 

As  I  have  interspersed  throughout  this  narrative 
several  specimens  of  the  hymns,  I  need  not  add  any 
here.  The  selection  is  admirable ;  and  will,  I  am 
sure,  commend  itself  to  our  readers,  who  ought  by 
all  means  to  procure  a  copy  of  the  cantiques  for 
themselves.  In  them  they  will  find  the  creed  of 
the  Mission;  and  learn  what  truths  are  now  circu- 
lating through  the  nation,  through  the  medium 
of  sacred  song.      In  the  absence  of  creed  and  cate- 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     301 

chism,  these  hymns  will  furnish  an  answer  to  the 
question  of  an  inquirer,  *'  What  do  these  evangelists 
teach?"  They  teach  what  they  sing.  They  have 
embodied  their  Gospel  in  happy  verse  and  melody; 
and  that  Gospel,  thus  enshrined  in  song,  is  quite  in 
accordance  with  the  '*  Confessions"  of  the  Reforma- 
tion Churches.  It  may  be  that  by  these  hymns 
many  in  France  will  be  led  to  study  these  ancient 
declarations  of  a  faith,  once  widely  held  on  both 
sides  of  the  Rhine, — a  faith  which  has  never  wholly 
died  out,  and  which  is  now  manifestly  beginning  to 
revive,  and  which,  in  its  revival,  promises  to  unite 
the  nineteenth  with  the  sixteenth  century  in  an 
unexpected  way  and  at  a  most  unlikely  time,  turn- 
ing back  the  era  of  unbelief  and  error  to  the  era  of 
faith  and  truth. 

SECTION  VII. 

Evangelists  and  their  Gospel. 

Three  hundred  years  ago,  when  the  Word  of  God 
was  working  its  way  in  strength  through  Europe, 
the  question  arose,  once  and  again,  who  is  to  be 
the  Reformer  of  France  ?  Berquin,  Farel,  Calvin 
were  named.  But  the  question  of  leadership  soon 
was   settled   by  the   martyrdom  or  banishment  of 


302  The  White  Fields  of  Finance. 

the  noblest  of  France's  sons.      The  shepherds  were 

smitten,  and  the  sheep  were  scattered. 

"  Farel  would  have  been  the  man  fitted  for  this  work.  He  was 
one  of  those  whose  simple,  serious,  earnest  tones  carry  away 
the  masses.  His  voice  of  thunder  made  his  hearers  tremble. 
The  strength  of  his  convictions  created  faith  in  their  souls, 
the  fervour  of  his  prayers  raised  them  to  heaven.  When  they 
listened  to  him,  '  they  felt,'  as  Calvin  says,  *  not  merely  a  few 
light  pricks  and  stings,  but  were  wounded  and  pierced  to  the 
heart ;  and  hypocrisy  was  dragged  from  those  wonderful  and 
more  than  tortuous  hiding-places  which  lie  deep  in  the  heart 
of  man.'  He  pulled  down  and  built  up  mth  equal  energy. 
Even  his  life, — an  apostleship  full  of  self-sacrifice,  danger,  and 
triumph, — was  as  effectual  as  his  sermons.  He  was  not  only 
a  minister  of  the  Word  ;  he  was  a  bishop  also.  He  was  able 
to  discern  the  young  men  fitted  to  wield  the  weapons  of  the 
Gospel,  and  to  direct  them  in  the  great  war  of  the  age.  Farel 
never  attacked  a  place,  however  difficult  of  access,  which  he 
did  not  take.  Such  was  the  man  then  called  into  France,  and 
who  seemed  destined  to  be  its  reformer."  * 

Is  God  now  preparing  a  reformer  for  France, — a 
theologian  and  an  evangelist, — a  Calvin  and  a  Farel 
in  one  ?  In  what  direction  do  the  leadings  of  His 
providence  now  point  ?  Is  the  present  work  to 
glide  on  quietly,  widening  and  deepening  without 
noise  ?  Or  are  we  to  be  startled  some  day  with  the 
news  that  a  Paul,  or  a  Luther,  or  a  Calvin  has 
arisen  ?  Is  the  present  restraint  upon  priestly  hatred 
to  be  continued  ?    Or  is  the  telegraph  some  midnight 

*  Merle  D'Aubigne's  "  Keformation  in  Europe  in  the  Time  of 
Calvin,"  vol.  i.,  p.  602. 


Miscellaneous  :  Past  and  Present.     303 

to  flash  through  Europe  the  intelligence  that  a  long- 
laid  Vatican  plot  has  at  length  been  ripened,  and 
that  the  Pope  has  found  tools  among  the  ''  Legiti- 
mists "  of  France  to  carry  it  out,  if  not  in  massacre, 
at  least  in  banishment  ?  ^ 

But,  with  or  without  a  leader,  will  France  return 
to  THE  FAITH  of  the  Reformation  ?  And  is  it  this 
that  is  now  going  on  ?  Is  the  present  movement 
working  back  in  the  direction  of  the  old  landmarks  ? 
The  converts  of  the  Mission  know  nothing  of  the 
Galilean  Confession  or  the  Geneva  Catechism ;  but 
the  truth  embodied  in  these  is  that  which  is  taught 
in  the  Bible  which  they  read,  the  addresses  to  which 
they  listen,  the  hymns  which  they  sing,  and  the 
books  which  are  circulated  among  them. 

I  do  not  enter  into  the  question  of  creeds.  I 
speak  of  them  merely  as  the  classification  of  truth  ; 
and  it  is  of  no  small  importance  that  the  minds  of 

*  In  August,  1572,  the  Duke  of  Guise  called  together  the  captains 
of  the  Swiss  and  French  guards,  and  thus  addressed  them  :  "  Gen- 
tlemen,  the  hour  is  come,  when,  under  the  sanction  of  the  king,  we 
may  at  length  avenge  ourselves  upon  the  accursed  race, — the  enemies 
of  God.  The  beast  is  in  the  snare,  and  must  not  be  suffered  to  escape. 
Honour  and  profit  may  now  be  won  cheaply,  and  that  effected  without 
peril  which  so  many  brave  captains,  at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood, 
have  in  vain  sought  to  accomplish."  Is  such  a  thing  possible  again  ? 
Nothing  more  likely  if  "  legitimacy  "  gets  into  the  ascendant.  A 
century  and  a-half  of  restraint  has  only  whetted  the  appetite  of 
Rome  for  slaughter.  Some  Duke  of  Guise  may  yet  appear  who  will 
"  cry  havoc,  and  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war." 


304  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

of  the  Mission  converts  should  be  turned  in  the 
direction  of  the  ancient  faith  for  which  their  fathers 
suffered.  The  Reformation  exhibited  a  singular 
example  of  unity  in  belief,  among  the  different 
nations  ;  and  the  "  Harmony  of  Confessions," — a 
volume  which  gathered  all  Protestant  creeds  to- 
gether,— is  of  itself  a  study,  not  only  in  theology, 
but  in  the  history  of  mind.  The  agreement  of  so 
many  minds  of  diverse  nationalities,  without  concert 
or  conference,  is  a  puzzle  to  the  metaphysician,  while 
it  is  a  triumph  to  the  Christian.  The  Galilean  Con- 
fession, shorter  than  most  of  its  fellows,  but  quite  as 
explicit,  as  a  brief  scheme  of  classified  doctrine  drawn 
from  Scripture,  is  a  noble  heirloom  which  France 
must  not  surrender.  It  may,  perhaps,  come  up  now, 
and  play  no  inconsiderable  part  in  the  development 
of  the  nation's  future."^ 

*  The  Gallican  Confession,  first  published  in  1561,  in  French,  and 
afterwards  translated  into  Latin  in  1566,  bears  the  following  title  : — 
"  Confession  de  foy,  faitte  d'un  commun  accord  par  les  Fran9ois,  qui 
desirent  vivre  selon  la  puret^  de  I'evangile  de  nostre  Seigneur  Jesus 
Christ."  It  was  presented,  in  French  (in  1559),  to  Francis  II., 
at  Amboise,  in  the  name  of  all  the  godly  of  France,  and  again,  in 
1561  at  Poissy,  to  Charles  IX.,  and  then  afterwards  published  in 
Latin  by  the  pastors  of  the  French  Churches,  with  a  preface  to  all 
other  evangelical  pastors.  As  a  specimen  of  this  noble  document,  I 
give  the  following  extract,  in  the  Old  French,  from  the  article  on 
Justification  : — "  Nous  croyons  que  toute  nostre  justice  est  fondle 
en  la  remission  de  noz  p(^chez  ;  comme  aussi  c'est  nostre  seule  f^licit^, 
comme  dit  David.  Parquoy  nous  rejettons  tons  autres  moyens  de 
nous  pouvoir  instifier  devant  Dieu,  et  sans  pr^sumer  de  nulles  vertus 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     305 

As  to  the  message  and  the  messengers  in  the 
present  enterprise,  let  me  add  the  following  re- 
marks. 

There  are  several  qualifications  specially  needed  in 
this  expanding  work.  For  some  schemes  the  mere 
keeping  of  machinery  in  motion  may,  to  a  certain 
extent,  suffice.  In  this  Mission  such  routine,  com- 
monplace discharge  of  duty  is  little  better  than  a 
drag ;  and  it  is  not  a  drag,  but  motive-power,  that  is 
needed  here.  Energy,  fervour  of  spirit,  self-denial, 
patient  endurance  of  toil,  undaunted  zeal,  with  love 
and  faith,  such  as  all  victorious  reformers  and  suc- 
cessful evangelists  have  possessed  ; — these  are  what 
the  Mission  requires,  and  without  which  it  cannot 
hope  for  conquest.  My  object  is  not  to  praise  nor 
to  dispraise ;  not  to  point  out  who  have  and  who 
have  not  these  qualities  ;  but  to  remind  all  who 
engage  in  it  what  the  enterprise  demands.  It 
would  rather  struggle  on  with  few  thoroughly  good 
labourers  than  have  itself  weakened  by  unsound  or 


ne  merites,  nous  nous  tenons  simplement  h,  I'obbissance  de  Jesus 
Christ,  laquelle  nous  est  allouee  tant  pour  couvrir  toutes  noz  fautes, 
que  pour  nous  faire  trouver  grace  et  faveur  devant  Dieu.  Et  de  fait 
nous  croyons  qu'en  d^clinant  de  ce  fondement  tant  peu  que  ce  soit, 
nous  ne  pourrions  trouver  ailleurs  aucun  repos,  mais  serious  tous jours 
agitez  d'inqui^tude  :  d'autant  que  iamais  nous  ne  sommes  paisible- 
ment  avec  Dieu,  iusques  a  ce  que  nous  soyons  bien  resolus  d'estre 
aymez  en  Jesus  Christ  veu  que  nous  sommes  dignes  d'estre  hais  en 
nous  mesmes." 

X 


3o6         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

half-hearted  ones.  They  who  have  gone  into  the 
field  understand  that  they  are  to  throw  into  their 
work  their  whole  strength  and  soul.  ''  Not  weary 
in  well-doing  "  is  one  special  watchword  ;  but  there 
is  another  which  goes  beyond  this — "  Enduring  hard- 
ness as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ." 

The  biographies  of  Martin  Boos,  and  Felix  Neff, 
and  John  Frederick  Oberlin  might  be  read  with 
great  advantage  both  as  guides  and  stimulants. 
Some  have  thought  that  our  Northern  training  both 
in  England  and  Scotland  has  given  us  habits  both 
of  plodding  and  of  daring  which  other  nations  do  not 
possess.  But  these  three  above  named  are  speci- 
mens of  German  and  French  workers,  fitted  both  to 
humble  and  to  quicken  the  most  zealous  of  us  all. 

If  any  permanent  work  is  to  be  done,  there  must 
be,  above  all  things,  a  dear  theology  ;  and  the  evan- 
gelists must  be  men  giving  no  uncertain  sound  as  to 
the  way  of  life.  Mistakes  here  will  be  fatal.  There 
are  some  men  of  fervent  spirit  and  hard-working 
capacity  whose  brains  are  mist  and  confusion,  and 
whose  sermons  are  quite  a  theological  wilderness. 
They  put  things  in  their  wrong  places  ;  they  turn 
the  Gospel  upside  down ;  they  either  mistake  the 
great  truths  of  Scripture,  or  they  set  them  in  a 
wrong  order,  which  wrong  order,  like  a  misplaced 
plus  or  minus  in  algebra,  reduces  all  to  confusion,  or 


Miscellaneous :  Pas  I  and  P^^esent.     307 


evolves  only  error.  A  preacher  may  speak,  by  the 
hour,  of  Christ,  and  faith,  and  pardon,  and  regenera- 
tion, and  good  works,  and  yet  preach  no  Gospel.  It 
is  the  way  or  order  in  which  these  are  stated  that 
makes  the  Gospel.  The  mixing  up  together  of  faith, 
and  love,  and  works  takes  all  the  "  good  news  "  out 
of  the  Gospel,  and  all  coherence  out  of  the  truth 
of  God. 

That  the  Son  of  God  has  done  what  the  sinner 
should  have  done,  and  suffered  what  the  sinner 
should  have  suffered,  is  the  foundation  of  the  great 
deliverance.  That  we  are  saved  by  another's  merits, 
another's  works,  another's  death,  by  ''  foreign  worth," 
as  one  has  expressed  it,  is  the  essence  of  the  glad 
tidings.  But  if  we  mix  up  the  work  of  the  Sub- 
stitute with  the  doings  of  the  sinner,  and  preach 
that  we  are  partly  saved  by  the  one  and  partly  by 
the  other,  we  make  void  the  cross  of  Christ.  If  we 
mingle  together  the  repentance  of  the  sinner  with 
the  sacrifice  of  the  Substitute,  we  both  misunder- 
stand the  meaning  and  deny  the  value  of  the 
sacrifice.  If  w^e  say  that  Christ  died  for  the  godly, 
not  the  ungodly ;  that  God  justifies  the  godly,  not 
the  ungodly  ;  that  Christ  does  not  receive  all  kinds 
of  sinners,  but  only  those  who  are  duly  sensible 
of  their  sins;  that  we  must  qualify  ourselves  for 
coming  to  Christ  by  prayer  and  faith  and  love  and 


3o8  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

contrition  and  good  deeds,  we  utterly  subvert  the 
finished  work  of  Calvary,  and  deny  the  free  love  of 
God.  To  preach  that  anything  is  to  be  done  by 
the  sinner  to  obtain  mercy,  and  recommend  himself 
to  the  favour  of  God,  is  but  to  preach  a  milder 
Popery.  As  it  was  the  blindness  of  the  blind  man, 
and  the  leprosy  of  the  leper  that  brought  them  to 
Christ,  and  Christ  to  them,  so  it  is  the  evil  that  is 
in  us  that  fits  us  for  Him,  who  is  the  Deliverer 
from  evil.  "  The  whole  need  not  a  physician,  but 
they  that  are  sick." 

Men  often  confound  what  the  sinner  gets  after 
coming  to  Christ,  with  what  he  is  to  bring  with 
him.  What  is  he  to  obtain  after  coming  ?  Every- 
thing that  is  good  and  holy  and  blessed.  What  is 
he  to  bring  with  him  ?  Nothing  but  his  sins ;  and  if 
any  man  preaches  that  the  sinner  is  to  bring  some- 
thing more  and  something  better,  he  misleads  the 
wanderer.  The  Gospel  is  God's  welcome  to  the 
children  of  men ; — as  fallen,  as  wanderers,  as  evil- 
doers. It  is  Christ's  knock  at  the  door  of  the  poor 
and  wretched  and  miserable  and  blind  and  naked. 
It  takes  every  man  just  as  it  finds  him,  and  just 
where  it  finds  him.  It  addresses  itself  to  each  son 
of  Adam. 

Let  me  suppose  a  false  teacher  telling  a  sinner 
that  he  is  to  look  up  all  the  good  things  he  has 


Miscella7ieo2Ls :  Past  and  Present.     309 

about  him  and  bring  tbem  as  qualifications,  in 
virtue  of  which,  demerit  will  be  overlooked,  and 
himself  made  welcome.  He  comes  in  compliance 
with  the  exhortation  he  has  heard,  and  he  counts  on 
being  received  in  respect  of  the  gifts  he  brings. 

"  Who  art  thou,"  he  is  asked  by  the  Son  of  God, 
"  and  what  dost  thou  want  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  son  of  Adam,  and  I  am  seeking  favour 
and  forgiveness  at  Thy  hands." 

"  But  what  are  these  things  that  thou  bringest 
with  thee?" 

"  They  are  gifts,  without  which  I  was  told  that  I 
must  not  approach  Thee." 

"Did  I  ask  for  gifts,  or  did  I  simply  ask  for  thy- 
self, just  as  thou  wert,  when  my  Gospel  came  to 
thee?" 

"  Thou  didst  ask  for  nothing  but  myself  and  my 
sins ;  but  I  was  told  that  something  more  would  be 
expected." 

''  What  hast  thou  brought  ?  " 

"  I  have  brought  my  repentance  and  contrition 
and  resolutions  of  amendment.  They  are  poor 
enough,  but  they  are  the  best  that  I  could  work  up 
out  of  my  stony  heart." 

''  Where  didst  thou  get  these  things  ?  Did  I 
give  them  to  thee,  or  didst  though  get  them  from 
thyself?" 


The  White  Fields  of  France. 


"I  got  them  from  myself;  but  I  trust  that 
though  they  are  mine,  and  not  Thine,  Thou  wilt 
accept  them  for  what  they  are  worth,  and  because 
of  them  accept  me;  for  I  did  not  dare  to  come 
to  Thee  without  something,  however  small." 

"  But  what  is  that  self-made  repentance  worth  ? " 

"  I  know  not ;  but  I  was  told  that  I  must  have 
some  good  thing  about  me ;  otherwise  my  coming 
would  be  in  vain.  But,  Lord,  what  shall  I  do  with 
it  ?  Wilt  Thou  not  look  favourably  on  it,  and  on  me 
because  of  it  ?  " 

"I  tell  thee  that  it  is  worth  nothing;  nay,  it  is 
worth  less  than  nothing ;  it  is  an  insult  to  Me ;  for 
it  takes  for  granted  that  I  am  an  '  austere  man,'  a 
man  accepting  gifts  and  bribes.  Even  were  it 
better  than  it  is,  it  would  profit  thee  nothing." 

"  What,  then,  shall  I  do  with  these  gifts  that  I 
have  brought  ? " 

"  Throw  them  all  away,  and  come  to  Me  as  thou 
art,  without  one  good  feeling.  I  need  no  gifts  to 
induce  Me  to  receive  the  sinner.  I  give, — I  do  not 
sdl :  I  give  to  the  iimvorthy,  I  do  not  bargain  with 
the  worthy,  if  such  there  be." 

"  But  must  I  not  repent  and  be  broken-hearted?" 

"  Yes  ;  but  you  must  come  to  Me  for  the  broken 
heart ;  I  am  exalted,  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  ^  to 
give  repentance.'     You  cannot  break  that  heart  of 


Miscellaneous :  Pas  I  aiid  Present.     \  1 1 


yours ;  but  I  can,  and  will.  Put  it  into  my  hands 
simply  as  it  is,  and  you  will  soon  know  the  wondrous 
change." 

One  thing  that  often  hindered,  or  at  least 
retarded  the  Gospel  300  years  ago,  in  Europe,  was 
the  attempt  at  compromise,  sometimes  put  forth  on 
both  sides ;  cunningly  by  the  Komanists,  timidly  by 
some  of  the  Reformers.  More  than  once  did  this 
trouble  Calvin ;  and  sometimes,  it  may  be,  stirred 
his  fervent  spirit  to  the  use  of  strong  words, — words 
which  only  those  who  knew  how  much  was  at 
stake  can  properly  judge.  "  If  we  can  be  satisfied 
with  a  half  Christ,"  he  exclaims  on  one  occasion, 
"  we  could  easily  come  to  terms  (with  Rome)." 
The  tendency  to  "  concession,"  before  which  some 
feeble  spirits  were  giving  way,  must  be  resisted. 
"  Pray,"  wrote  he,  "  with  all  earnestness  that  we 
may  be  strengthened  with  the  spirit  of  boldness." 

Yet  there  is  the  other  side  of  this, — rigid  resist- 
ance to  all  kinds  of  conciliation.  "  It  was  the  mis- 
fortune of  that  age,"  writes  Dr.  Merle  D'Aubign^, 
"  that  many  fastened  upon  a  few  differences  of  detail 
rather  than  upon  the  great  truths  on  which  they 
were  agreed.'"^  Of  more  ao-es  than  that  of  the 
Reformation  has  this  been  found  true;  and  few 
have  learned  the  holy  medium  between  uncharitable 

*  "  History  of  the  Reformation  in  Europe,"  vol.  vii.,  p.  484. 


12  The  White  Fields  of  France. 


censoriousness  and  the  indifference  of  a  reckless 
liberality.  Christian  discrimination  and  large- 
souled  charity  ought  to  be  inseparable.  We  love  the 
truth,  we  hate  the  error ;  yet  we  are  slow  to  judge 
or  to  suspect  or  to  drav/  conclusions  which,  after  all, 
may  be  as  illegitimate  as  they  are  unkind. 

Bible  truth  is  twofold,  two-sided ;  and  we  must 
always  turn  it  round  to  know  exactly  what  each 
side  means,  and  to  check  unfairness  in  dealing  with 
it  The  demands  of  a  human  logic  have  not  always 
lain  in  the  direction  of  truth.  We  push  past  the 
metaphysical  thickets  which  would  detain  us  from 
the  cross  by  discussions  as  to  the  quality  and 
quantity  of  the  faith  that  is  saving,  and  rest  not 
till  we  are  landed  in  the  great  history  of  the  Son  of 
God,  in  the  knowledge  of  which  there  is  eternal  life. 

I  feel  urged  here  to  notice,  though  briefly,  the 
way  in  which  the  eloquent  Vinet  has,  by  means  of 
one-sided  logic,  mystified  the  way  of  life.  His  name 
is  great  in  France,  and  it  is  all  the  more  needful  to 
mark  his  departure  from  the  Reformation  theology. 
Faith  saves,  he  says,  because  it  has  the  "germ 
of  holiness  ; "  and  in  the  saved  thief  "  the  Divine 
eye  saw  the  tree  in  the  germ."  "  My  faith  is  to 
take  the  place  of  works  which  I  have  not  done." 
"  Faith  taking  the  place  of  works ;  faith  reckoned 
as    righteousness ;     faith    becoming    the    condition 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     3 1 3 

of  a  neiu  covenant,  as  obedience  luas  that  of  the 
old."  -- 

In  opposition  to  these  statements  (and  there  are 
many  similar),  I  set  the  two  following  extracts,  the 
first  from  Melancthon,  the  second  from  Luther : — 

"  You  stick  to  the  fancy  of  Augustine,  who,  though  right  in 
rejecting  the  righteousness  of  human  reason,  imagines  that  we 
are  justified  by  that  fulfilUng  of  the  law  which  the  Holy 
Spirit  works  in  us.  So  you  imagine  that  men  are  justified  by 
faith,  because  it  is  by  faith  that  we  receive  the  Spirit,  that 
thereafter  we  may  be  able  to  be  just  by  that  fulfilment  of  the 
law  which  the  Spirit  works.  This  imagination  places  justifica- 
tion in  our  fulfilment  of  the  law,  in  our  purity  or  perfection, 
although  this  renewal  ought  to  follow  faith.  But  turn 
your  eyes  from  that  renewal,  and  from  the  law  altogether,  to 
the  promise  and  to  Christ,  and  think  that  it  is  on  Christ's 
account  that  we  become  just,  that  is,  accepted  before  God, 
and  that  it  is  thus  we  obtain  peace  of  conscience,  and  not  on 
account  of  that  renewal.  For  even  this  renewing  is  insufficient 
(for  justification).  We  are  justified  by  faith  alone,  not  because 
it  is  a  root,  as  you  write,  but  because  it  apprehends  Christ,  on 
account  of  whom  we  are  accepted  ;  this  renewing,  although  it 
necessarily  follows,  yet  does  not  pacify  the  conscience.  There- 
fore not  even  love,  though  it  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law, 
justifies,  but  only  faith  ;  not  because  it  is  some  excellence  in 
us,  but  only  because  it  takes  hold  of  Christ ;  we  are  justified, 
not  on  account  of  love,  not  on  account  of  the  fulfilling  of  the 
law,  not  on  account  of  our  renewal,  although  these  are  the 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  but  on  account  of  Christ ;  and  Him 
we  take  hold  of  by  faith  alone.  Believe  me,  my  Brentius, 
this  controversy  regarding  the  righteousness  which  is  by  faitli 
is  a  mighty  one,  and  little  understood." 

*  Vinet's  "Vital  Christianity,"  p.  286-7.     English  edition. 


314         The  White  Fields  of  France. 

"  I  am  accustomed,  my  Brentius,  for  the  better  understand- 
ing of  tills  point,  to  conceive  this  idea,  that  there  is  no  quality 
in  my  heart  at  all,  call  it  either  faith  or  charity  ;  but  instead 
of  these  I  set  Christ  Himself,  and  I  say  this  is  my  righteous- 
ness. He  is  my  quality  and  my  formal  righteousness  as  they 
call  it,  so  as  to  free  myself  from  looking  into  law  or  works." 

The  difference  between  these  two  theologies  is 
very  wide,  yet  very  subtle,  especially  as  expounded 
by  Vinet :  and  the  way  in  which  the  matter  is 
argued  reminds  us  sadly  of  the  logic  of  the  Romish 
doctors,  who  conceded  as  strongly  as  Luther  could 
wish  that  salvation  was  from  Christ,  yet  mixed  up 
love  and  faith  and  works  as  conditions  of  salvation, 
— terms  of  the  bargain  between  the  sinner  and  God. 

This  wa-s  one  of  the  keenly-fought  positions  of 
the  Reformation  battle,  the  loss  of  which  was  sure 
to  bring  with  it,  as  Melancthon  thought,  the  loss  of 
the  great  doctrine  of  justification.  The  same  battle 
has  often  been  fought  over  again  between  Protest- 
ants themselves ;  and  the  name  of  Vinet  has  again 
awakened  it,  not  only  in  France  and  Switzerland, 
but  in  America  and  England.  The  antagonism 
between  the  Lausanne  Professor  and  the  Wittemberg 
Reformer  is  very  manifest.  It  is  no  verbal  conflict, 
nor  straw-splitting  distinction.  The  very  essence 
of  God's  good  news  to  the  sons  of  Adam  is  touched 
by  it ;  and  the  pacification  of  the  sinner's  troubled 
conscience  depends  on  its  right  adjustment.     The 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     3 1 5 

gospel  of  Yinet  would  not  have  quieted  Luther's 
soul,  nor  relieved  his  terrors.  That  which  he  felt 
he  needed  was  the  perfection  of  another's  righteous- 
ness reckoned  to  him  by  God,  in  consequence  of 
which  he  was  to  be  treated  as  a  righteous  man  ; 
not  the  germ  of  a  mystical  goodness  wrapt  up  in 
his  own  faith,  by  reason  of  which  he  might  claim 
the  favour  of  God  and  the  benefits  of  the  great 
expiation. 

The  ''fiction  of  another's  righteousness"  is  the 
formula  by  which  both  mysticism  and  rationalism 
unite  in  decrying  the  Pauline  theology.  For  these 
two  systems  of  error  are  far  more  akin  to  each  other 
than  is  generally  credited.  Whether  the  former 
should  be  allowed  to  call  itself  "  spiritual "  instead  of 
"  sensational,"  and  the  latter  "  intellectual "  instead 
of  "  sceptical,"  we  do  not  say.  All  we  suggest  is 
that  both  oppose  the  Apostolic  Gospel, — which  is, 
that  God  can  only  deal  with  the  sinner  favourably  on 
the  footing  of  another's  perfection  :  and  that  he  who 
would  influence  a  nation  or  move  a  city,  must  do 
this  by  the  old  Gospel  which  Paul  carried  with 
him  whithersoever  he  went,  and  by  which  he  shook 
the  fortresses  of  Paganism  in  Asia  and  in  Greece ;  in 
Antioch  and  Ephesus  and  Corinth. 

The  question  as  to  a  leader  may  or  may  not  be 
raised  in  France  ;  but  this  must  be.     Whether  the 


3 1 6  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

French  Church  is  to  accept  its  own  old  Confession 
may  not  be  quite  a  serious  matter ;  but  whether 
she  is  to  accept  the  truth  embodied  in  it  is  vital. 
If  God  purposes  to  carry  out  the  work  by  a  leader, 
He  will,  when  the  time  comes,  bring  out  some  man 
of  faith  and  might  from  the  school  where  He  has 
been  secretly  training  him  for  His  work ; — some 
Moses  from  Midian,  some  David  from  the  sheep- 
folds,  or  some  Knox  from  the  galleys.  If  He  means 
to  do  a  new  thing  in  the  earth,  and  save  His  Israel 
without  a  captain,  He  will,  at  least,  lift  up  the 
banner  of  the  eternal  truth,  and  provide  His  own 
standard-bearers,  whether  these  may  be  the  unknown 
or  the  well  known,  the  humble  or  the  great.  "  The 
Lord  gave  the  word,  great  was  the  company  of  those 
that  published  it."  The  Word  given  by  Jehovah 
is  the  quickening  sound ;  all  other  voices,  true  as 
they  may  be,  are  but  echoes  of  the  one  luord,  and 
derive  all  their  power  from  conformity  to  it. 

Christ  saves  !  This  was  the  Reformation  watch- 
word. It  must  be  ours.  He  does  not  help  man 
to  save  himself.  He  begins  and  ends  the  work  of 
deliverance.  He  who  justifies  is  God  only,  without 
the  intervention  of  priest  or  church.  That  which 
justifies  is  the  one  completed  expiation  of  the  one 
SACRIFICE ;  never  to  be  repeated,  nay,  incapable  of 
repetition.     Not  that  which  the  sinner  does  or  tries 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present.     3 1 7 

to  do ;  but  that  which  has  been  done  on  Golgotha 
by  the  one  Substitute  :  not  the  soul's  fervour,  or 
devotion,  or  agony,  or  mortification,  or  self-surrender, 
or  intensity  of  longing,  or  renuncia^tion  of  the  world  ; 
none  of  these,  nor  all  of  them  together  can  propitiate 
the  Judge,  or  make  it  right  for  a  righteous  God  to 
pardon  unrighteous  men.  All  the  sinner's  liabilities 
were  fully  undertaken  by  the  Son  of  God ;  and  He 
has  fulfilled  that  which  He  undertook.  "  The 
chastisement  of  our  peace  was  on  Him  : "  and  His 
endurance  of  the  chastisement  for  us  has  secured  the 
eternal  peace  for  the  ungodliest  of  the  sons  of  men. 
The  knowledge  of  this  is  forgiveness  and  everlasting 
life.  The  world  needs  no  other  Gospel,  even  in  its 
worst  estate  ;  and  he  who  knows  the  meaning  of 
that  Gospel  will  ask  nothing  better,  nothing  surer, 
to  pacify  the  conscience,  and  give  boldness  in 
drawing  near  to  God. 

SECTION  VIIL 

European  Chaos. 

The  unsettlement  which  exhibits  itself  through- 
out the  Continental  kingdoms,  though  not  always 
making  itself  felt  in  revolutions  and  assassinations, 
is  a  much  more  serious  phase  of  modern  national 
life  than  most  reckon  it  to  be,  and  forms  a  very 


3 18  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

important  element  in  our  estimate  of  evangelical 
work  in  France. 

This  unrest  lias  now  become  chronic ;  troubling 
Christian  men,  alarming  society,  and  perplexing 
statesmen.  Passions  govern  and  impel  ;  extremes 
refuse  to  be  reconciled  ;  mutual  distrust  prevails ; 
self-will  is  the  motive-force  ;  and,  along  with  these, 
the  love  of  money,  the  pursuit  of  pleasure,  the  mania 
for  luxury,  are  all  working  together  to  increase  the 
inquietude  which  prevails.  Repose  has  become  im- 
possible, and,  to  most,  undesirable. 

Is  this  restlessness  favourable  or  unfavourable 
to  the  religious  movement  which  unquestionably  is 
showing  itself  everywhere  ?  For  men  are  thinking 
about  religion,  discussing  religious  subjects,  scrutin- 
ising the  Bible,  in  the  midst  of  this  wide  European 
whirl  ;  and  the  most  sacred  questions  are  dragged 
into  the  ferment,  sometimes  reverentially,  sometimes 
flippantly,  and  sometimes  as  a  political  element,  to 
increase  the  confusion. 

Not  in  France  only  are  men  thinking  about 
religion,  but  in  all  nations,  beginning  with  our  own  ; 
southward  in  Spain,  eastward  in  Russia.  In  some 
strange  way,  religious  and  irreligious  things  are 
mixed  up,  as  if  the  various  national  minds,  once  set 
in  motion,  were  resolved  to  discuss  everything,  for 
good  or  for  evil. 


Miscellaneous :  Past  and  Present,      3 1 9 

The  restlessness  of  thought  at  present  is  great ; 
but  the  restlessness  of  ivill  is  greater  and  more 
alarming.  It  is  this  latter  that  so  threatens  Europe, 
and  makes  the  prospect  of  tranquillity  so  hopeless. 
"  Our  lips  are  our  own,  who  is  lord  over  us  ?  "  is  really 
the  watchword  (unconsciously  a  Bible  one)  of  all 
classes. 

Statesmen,  in  their  blindness,  have  hitherto  be- 
lieved only  in  two  remedies  for  all  this, — the  army 
and  the  priesthood.  The  latter  has  at  last  been 
"  found  out,"  and  the  broken  reed  is  thrown  aside. 
On  the  former  they  are  still  obliged  to  rely ;  but 
they  are  conscious  how  unsafe  it  is  to  govern  souls 
by  bayonets.  Some,  we  believe,  are  now  favouring 
the  present  Parisian  movement  as  the  only  possible 
cure, — perhaps  the  last;  for  if  it  fails,  what  but 
revolution  and  revenge  lie  in  front  ? 

Can  a  calm  religious  movement  go  on  in  the  heat 
of  universal  fever  ?  Must  we  not  wait  till  at  least 
the  delirium  be  over  ? 

In  most  cases  we  should  say  so.  But  the  Gospel 
in  which  we  trust  does  not  wait  for  the  sick  man's 
improvement.  It  takes  him  as  he  is.  It  meets 
his  case  at  the  very  height  of  the  fever,  as  well  as 
after  it  is  gone.  It  contains  a  sobering  and  tran- 
quillising  influence,  such  as  makes  it  altogether  suit- 
able for  the  present  state  of  France  and  of  Europe. 


The  White  Fields  of  France. 


Restlessness  is,  moreover,  to  be  preferred  to  stag- 
nation and  sleep,  in  so  far  as  mission-work  is  con- 
cerned.     The  former  is  more  hopeful  than  the  latter. 

At  the  same  time,  let  us  admit  that  the  rest- 
lessness we  have  described  is  of  a  very  peculiar  kind. 
It  is  not  altogether  that  of  aching  hearts,  yearning 
after  better  things,  but  that  of  disappointed  men 
angry  at  everything  around  them,  and  bent  on 
taking  everything  to  pieces,  and  dissolving  existing 
order.  At  its  roots  we  find  the  two  great  forms  of 
evil  which  are  to  mark  the  last  days, — unbelief 
and  laivlessness, — airLa-ria  and  avo^ia,  the  former 
bearing  upon  the  religious  character  of  the  present 
times,  the  latter  on  the  political ;  the  one  ripening 
into  atheism,  the  other  into  liberalism  ; — the  "  man 
of  sin  "  or  "  lawless  one,"  who  "  doeth  according  to 
his  will "  (Dan.  xi.  36),  being  the  completion  or 
product  of  both. 

But  with  all  this  unsettlement  around  us  there 
ought  to  be  no  distrust  of  the  power  of  the  Book  of 
God  to  meet  the  evil.  That  restlessness  is,  after  all, 
but  human  ;  while  to  meet  it  we  have  that  Gospel 
which  is  the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God. 
Whatever  may  be  the  awful  developments  of  this 
combined  "unbelief"  and  "  lawlessness,"  forean- 
nounced  by  the  prophets,  we  have  only  to  do  with 
what  lies  immediately  before  us,  and  to  measure  the 


Miscellaiieotis :  Past  mid  Present.     321 

strength  of  the  evil,  whatever  that  may  be,  with  the 
power  of  that  Gospel  which  is  more  than  able  to 
cope  with  it.  For  the  "  pulling  down  of  strong- 
holds," whether  of  wisdom  or  of  strength,  is  the  aim 
of  the  Gospel,  and  the  end  which  it  has  so  often 
accomplished  in  ages  past.  The  ''  wisdom  of  the 
wise  "  has  been  "  destroyed ;"  and  "  the  understand- 
ing of  the  prudent  brought  to  nought  "by  ''  the 
foolishness  of  preaching." 

Ours  is  a  Gospel  of  Divine  power  ;  and  not  all 
the  boiling  ingredients  or  fierce  explosives  of  the 
great  European  cauldron  can  resist  it.  The  Book 
which  we  carry  with  us  to  confront  all  this  religious 
and  political  unruliness,  is  a  Book  which  has  done 
great  things  for  the  world  hitherto,  and  which  has  not 
lost  ought  of  its  strength  in  these  last  days.  It  is  a 
Book  which  has  calmed  many  storms,  and  quenched 
many  volcanoes ;  which  has  "  revolutionised  "  many 
nations,  and  given  new  constitutions  to  many  king- 
doms; which  has,  on  the  one  hand,  broken  up  the 
prisons  of  many  a  despotism,  and  on  the  other  said 
to  the  lawless  mob,  ''  Fear  God,  honour  the  king,  and 
meddle  not  with  them  that  are  given  to  change."  Its 
victories  are  not  over;  nay,  its  greatest  are  yet  to  come. 

I  say  this  in  the  full  remembrance  of  that  which 
is  written,  "  In  the  last  days  perilous  times  shall 
come."     But  I    would  not  for  a  moment  have  it 

Y 


32  2  The  White  Fields  of  France. 


supposed  that  the  Bible  has  become  impotent,  or  its 
truths  effete.  I  would  not  have  it  thought  that  the 
greatness  of  the  evil  could  affect,  in  the  slightest 
degree,  the  force  of  that  Omnipotent  Word  which  is 
"  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong- 
holds" (2  Cor.  X.  4). 

I  should  like  to  remove  the  feeling  of  hoplessness 
with  which  some  Christian  men  regard  the  nations 
of  the  Continent ;  as  if  their  doom  were  sealed,  and 
their  populations  given  over  by  God  to  fill  up  the 
measure  of  their  wickedness ;  as  if  the  Gospel  and 
the  Bible  had  come  too  late  ;  and  as  if  the  liberty 
which  is  now  breaking  up  the  civil  bondage  of  the 
kingdoms  were  only  the  precursor  of  Nihilism  and 
Socialism  ;  and  that  to  speak  of  it  in  connection 
with,  or  as  opening  the  way  for  a  nobler  liberty,  is 
to  misname  and  to  mislead. 

The  Word  of  God  is  not  bound ;  nor  has  it 
become  feeble  like  the  words  of  man.  Men  may 
become  disheartened,  and  lose  their  confidence  in 
the  Divine  Record  ;  but  there  it  stands  in  its  old 
strength ;  ready  to  do  battle  with  all  the  phases  of 
modern  scepticism,  as  with  those  of  ancient  super- 
stition :  equally  able  to  cope  with  the  sophistries  of 
European  infidelity,  as  with  the  subtleties  of  Asiatic 
pantheism  ;  still,  as  it  has  always  been,  the  fire  that 
melts  the  flint,  the  hammer  that  breaks  the  rock  in 


Miscellaneous:  Past  and  Present.     323 

pieces,  the  sword  that  pierces  to  the  dividing  asunder 
of  soul  and  spirit. 

Let  us  do  justice  to  the  Book  of  God,  and  to  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  in  dealing  with  the  European  chaos, 
far  or  near.  With  such  weapons  we  may  face  the 
evil  hopefully.  Nil  Desperandmn.  "  The  word 
of  the  Lord  is  quick  and  powerful."  We  may  trust 
it  thoroughly. 

Nor  has  the  breath  of  the  Spirit  lost  ought  of  its 
searching  keenness  or  Divine  vitality.  He  is  still,  as 
at  Pentecost,  the  Spirit  of  power,  breaking  down  and 
upbuilding,  dissolving  and  restoring,  smiting  and 
healing,  overthrowing  error,  and  giving  truth  the 
victory.  That  same  mighty  breath  that  swept 
through  Antioch  and  Philippi  and  Colosse,  destroy- 
ing the  idols  and  setting  up  the  true  God,  can  per- 
meate Paris  and  Berlin  and  Vienna  and  Rome,  with 
like  irresistible  potency  as  of  old. 

It  may  be  that  this  last  battle  of  the  world  is  to 
prove  the  most  terrible  of  all.  Satan  is  evidently 
bringing  up  his  reserves,  and  arming  his  hosts  for 
tlie  heaviest  onset  the  Church  has  yet  seen.  Ancient 
Paganism  fell  before  the  Gospel;  mediaeval  super- 
stition gave  way  before  it.  But  will  not  these  new 
organisations  of  evil,  in  which  the  human  heart  is 
displaying  its  deadliest  antipathies  to  God,  prove  too 
strong  for  it  ? 


324  The  White  Fields  of  France. 

Will  it  not  have  to  retire  discomfited  before  those 
"  armies  of  the  aliens  ?" 

No.  If  this  be  the  last  battle,  there  must,  out  of 
it,  come  a  last  victory  for  the  Book  of  God.  Whether 
that  victory  may  result  in  a  wide  acceptance  of  the 
truth  over  Europe  is  a  question  I  do  not  undertake 
to  answer ;  but  that  there  will  be  victory  of  some 
kind  for  the  Bible  I  believe, — victory  which  will 
show  that  there  is  no  amount  of  antagonism  to  God 
which  it  cannot  face,  and  no  strength  of  human  evil 
with  which  it  cannot  cope  successfully,  as  "  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation." 

The  time  may  be  short,  the  Divine  judgments  may 
be  imminent ;  but  the  Bible  and  the  Gospel  it  con- 
tains will  be  displayed,  in  their  power  to  contend 
with  the  last  form  of  earth's  wickedness  as  success- 
fully as  with  the  first. 

Shall  I  say  that  in  France  we  have  at  present 
some  signs  of  a  coming  harvest  ?  Is  it  too  much 
to  affirm  that  its  fields  are  whitening  for  the  sickle  ? 
Am  I  ascribing  too  much  importance  to  the  present 
day  of  small  things  to  call  this  Parisian  work  the 
first-fruits  ? 

I  do  not  think  so.  The  work  is  so  singular,  so 
out  of  the  common  beat,  both  in  its  origin  and  pro- 
gress ;  there  is  so  little  of  the  human  element,  so 
much  of  the  Divine ;  the  openings  are  so  providen- 


Miscellaneoits :  Past  and  Present.     325 


tial,  the  agencies  are  so  unostentatious,  and  the 
success  is  so  unexpected,  that  we  become  more  and 
more  satisfied  we  are  not  running  unsent,  nor  likely 
to  labour  unblest. 

All  the  more  do  we  feel  this  because  of  the  present 
state  of  Europe,  and  the  despair  among  statesmen  of 
being  able  to  cope  with  the  force  that  is  generating 
and  accumulating  everywhere,  by  either  gold  or  steel; 
nay,  even  by  education  or  culture. 

That  which  is  to  arrest  the  perilous  fermentation, 
— which  is  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos, — must  be 
something  more  powerful,  yet  more  ethereal,  than 
anything  that  has  yet  been  attempted.  Man  has 
tried  his  schemes  of  empiricism,  and  failed  in  every 
one.  God  is  now  pointing  us  to  something  which 
is  no  experiment  or  desperate  remedy,  but  a  cure, 
tried  and  infallible,  which  has  done  great  things  in 
past  ages  Avhen  allowed  full  play,  and  which  is  cap- 
able of  doing  even  greater  things  than  in  the  past, — 
"  the  foolish  things  confounding  the  wise;  the  weak 
things  confounding  the  things  that  are  mighty." 

Of  all  known  things  light  is  the  most  subtle  and 
silent,  yet  also  the  most  powerful.  It  is  light, — 
more  silent  and  subtle,  yet  also  more  powerful  than 
anything  on  earth,  that  is  now  going  forth, — the 
light  of  no  material  sun, — the  light  of  Him  who  is 
light  itself,  and  in  whom  is  no  darkness  at  all.      It 


J 


26  TJie  White  Fields  of  France. 


remains  to  be  seen  what  this  light  is  to  do  for 
Europe,  and  to  what  extent  the  darkness  of  the  last 
days  is  to  be  affected  by  its  shining. 

It  is  this  light  that  is  now  beginning  to  shine 
over  the  fields  of  ''  fair  France,"  and  to  whiten  them 
for  the  harvest.  It  is  this  that  is  now  giving  that 
great  people  a  better  alternative  than  what  has 
hitherto  been  offered  them, — Popery  or  Infidelity, 
— and  making  many  of  them  feel  that  in  quitting 
the  former  they  do  not  need  to  embrace  the  latter ; 
and  that  there  is  a  sure  faith,  resting  on  an  infallible 
Book,  which  no  Pope  of  Home  can  give,  and  which 
no  philosopher  of  the  Academy  can  take  away. 


APPENDIX. 


SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS. 

To  show  the  small  beginnings  of  the  work,  and  its  steady  pro- 
gress year  after  year,  from  November  1871  to  the  end  of  1878, 
I  add  here  the  leading  statistics,  as  given  at  the  end  of  each 
Keport. 


FIRST  REPORT. 

From  November  1871  to  January  1873. 

Number  of  Sittings. 

Belleville,    .         .         .  108   I   Montmartre,        .         .  150 

Menilmontant,     .         .  123   |   Faubourg  St.  Antoine,  134 

Total,  515. 


French  Meetings  during  the  year, 456 

Do.             for  Children, 89 

Aggregate  attendance, 37,957 

Bibles  and  other  Books  issued  from  Lending  Libraries,       .  701 

Tracts,  Scripture  Portions,  &c.,  given,         ....  49,766 

English  Meetings  at  Montmartre, 36 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto,  .         .         .         .         .         .  785 

Books  from  English  Lending  Library-,         ....  179 


28  Appendix. 


SECOND  REPOKT. 


From  January  1873  to  January 

1874. 

Numler  of  Sittings. 

Belleville,    . 

115 

Rue  Monge, 

116 

Menilmontant,     . 

171 

Grenelle,      . 

100 

Montmartre, 

162 

La  Chapelle, 

. 

140 

Faubourg  St,  Antoine, 

132 

Les  Ternes, 

120 

Total- 

-Stations,  8  ;  Sittings,  1056. 

French  Meetings  for  Adults,       ,         .         .         .         .         .  573 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 61,587 

Average  attendance  at  each  Adult  Meeting,       .         .         .  107 

Sunday-school  Meetings, 235 

Number  of  Scholars  in  Sunday  Schools,  about    .         .         .  340 

Number  of  Teachers  in  ditto,  about 22 

Children's  Thursday  Afternoon  Meetings,   .         .         .         .  142 
Aggregate  attendance  at  Sunday  Schools  and  Children's 

Meetings, 19,358 

Soldiers'  Meetings,     ........  9 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto,  besides  many  soldiers  at  the 

other  Services,     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  219 

Young  Women's  Meetings,  about 60 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto,  about          ....  1,000 

Total  French  Religious  Meetings  during  the  year,      .         .  1,019 

Total  attendance  at  ditto, 82,164 

Classes  for  teaching  English, 14  4 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto,    .         .         .         .         .         .  6,804 

Visits  paid,  upwards  of 300 

Scripture  Portions  distributed, 17,922 

Tracts,  &c.,  do.,     • 36,912 

Bibles  and  other  Books  issued  from  French  Lending  Libraries,  1,550 

English  Meetings  at  Montmartre, 94 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto,  about          ....  1,200 
English  Sunday  School  at  ditto,  average  attendance,  24 

scholars  and  4  teachers. 


Appendix, 


329 


THIRD  REPORT. 

From  January  1874  to  January  1875. 


Number  of  Sittings. 


Belleville,    . 
Montmartre, 
Mdnilmontant,     . 
raubourg  St.  Antoine, 
Quartier  Latin,    . 
Grenelle, 


108 
314 

184 
140 
150 
100 


La  Chapelle, 
Les  Ternes, 
Montsouris, 
La  Villette, 
Les  Batignolles 


185 
120 


80 
141 


Total— Stations,  11  ;  Sittings,  1610. 


French  Meetings  for  Adults,  Jan.  1  to  Sept.  30,         .         .  1,040 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 100,437 

Average  attendance  at  each  Adult  Meeting,       ...  97 

Bible  Classes,  attendance 1,632 

Prayer  Meetings  (commenced  October),     ....  348 

Average  attendance  of  Adults  per  week,    ....  2,000 

Sunday-school  Meetings, 462 

Number  of  Scholars  in  Sunday  Schools,  about    .         .         .  450 

Number  of  Teachers  in  ditto, 36 

Children's  Thursday  Afternoon  Meetings,  .  .  .  .  244 
Aggregate  attendance  at  Sunday  Schools  and  Children's 

Meetings, 27,722 

Average  attendance  of  Children  per  week,           .         .         .  533 

Young  Women's  Classes,  attendance           ....  1,300 

Total  of  French  Eeligious  Meetings  during  the  year,           .  1,893 

Total  attendance  at  ditto, 131,439 

Six  Classes  for  teaching  English,   attended  by  a  weekly 

average  of 100  to  120 

Visits  Paid, 1,418 

Scripture  Portions  distributed, 11,020 

Tracts,  &c.  &c.,  do., 56,394 

Bibles  and  Testaments  circulated,  in  addition  to  those  lent 

from  Libraries,  upwards  of 132 

English  Meetings  at  Montmartre, 92 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto,  about          ....  1,350 


330 


Appendix. 


English  Sunday  School  at  Montmartre,  average  attendance, 

24  scholars  and  4  teachers. 
Singing  Practices. 
Soldiers'  Meetings  at  Faubourg  St.  Antoine  and  Grenelle 

have  been  attended  by 


5,145 


FOUKTH  EEPORT. 

From  January  1875  to  January  1876. 


Number  of  Sittings. 

BeUeville,    . 

302 

Avenue  de  Clichy, 

197 

M(^nilmontant,     . 

184 

Eue  de  Turbigo,  . 

124 

Montmartre, 

315 

Cite  Industrielle, 

141 

Faubourg  St.  An 

oine             152 

Gare  d'lvry, 

. 

192 

Eue  Monge 

150 

Vaugirard, 

. 

120 

Grenelle,     . 

150 

Berc3% 

104 

La  Chapelle, 

185 

Passy, 

100 

Les  Ternes, 

202 



Montsouris, 

76 

Total, 

.       2,774 

La  Villette, 

80 

French  Meetings  for  Adults,  Jan.  1  to  Dec.  31,  1875,         .  1,418 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 147,803 

Public  Lectures, 9 

Attendance  at  ditto, 1,419 

Average  attendance  at  each  Adult  Meeting,       .         .         .  105 

Bible  Classes,  attendance, 5,359 

Prayer  Meetings,  do. , 2,058 

Average  attendance  of  Adults  per  week  throughout  the  year,    3,012 

Sunday-school  Meetings, 659 

Number  of  Scholars  in  Sunday  Schools,  about    .         .         .  730 

Number  of  Teachers  in  ditto,     ......  55 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 25,599 

Children's  Thursday  Afternoon  Meetings,           .         .         .  340 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 15,070 

Average  attendance  of  Children  per  week,          .         .         .  782 


Appendix. 


331 


Total  of  French  Religious  Meetings  during  the  year, 

Total  attendance  at  ditto,  ....... 

Four  Classes  for  teaching  English  and  two  for  teaching 
French,  Reading,  &c.,  attendance  weekly,  . 

Ouvroir  for  Poor  Women  at  Les  Ternes  Station. 

Meetings  for  the  Practice  of  Psalmody. 

Visits  paid,  above 

Scripture  Portions  distributed, 

Tracts,  &c.  &c.,  do., 

Bibles  and  Testaments  circulated,  in  addition  to  those  lent 
from  Libraries,  upwards  of 

Bibles  and  other  Books  issued  from  fourteen  French  Lend- 
ing Libraries,       ........ 

English  Meetings  at  Montmartre  and  Les  Ternes,  about     . 

Aggi-egate  attendance  at  ditto,  about  .... 

English  Sunday  School  at  Montmartre,  average  attendance, 
25  scholars  and  3  teachers. 


2,682 
197,366 

130 


2,500 
19,760 
72,170 

130 

2,578 

70 

1,100 


FIFTH  REPORT. 

From  January  1876  to  January  1877. 


Number  of  Sittings. 


Belleville,    . 

400 

Boulevard  Voltaire, 

140 

Montmartre, 

315 

Passy, 

184 

aubourg  St,  Antoine, 

372 

Bercy, 

104 

Rue  de  Rivoli,     . 

270 

Rue  Monge, 

15a 

Menilmontant,     . 

184 

Crenelle,      . 

150 

La  Chapelle, 

185 

Care  d'lvry. 

192 

Les  Ternes, . 

202 

Vaugirard,  . 

162 

Avenue  de  Clichy, 

197 

Montsouris, 

76 

Rue  La  Condamiue, 

120 

La  Villette, 

160 

Total, 

3,763 

Rue  Chariot, 

200 

French  Meetings  for  Adults,  Jan.  1  to  Dec.  1,  1876, ,         .        1,919 
Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 232,923 


zz^ 


Appendix, 


Adult  Bible  Class  Meetings  (six  weekly),    ....  251 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 9,322 

Prayer  Meetings,         ........  91 

Attendance  at  ditto,  ........  4,558 

Average  attendance  of  Adults  per  week  throughout  the  year,  4,746 

Sunday-school  Meetings, 745 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 33,770 

Number  of  Teachers, 74 

Children's  Week-day  Services, 592 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 33,545 

Young  People's  Meetings  and  Bible  Classes,       .         .         .  107 

Attendance  at  ditto, 5,544 

Average  attendance  of  Young  People  per  week  throughout 

the  year, 1,440 

Total  of  French  Religious  Meetings  during  the  year,           .  3,705 

Total  attendance  at  ditto, 319,729 

Meetings  for  the  Practice  of  Psalmody,       .         .         .         .  249 

Attendance  at  ditto, 32,658 

Five  Classes  for  teaching  English,  and  Two  for  teaching 

French  Reading,  &c.,  are  conducted  weekly. 


SIXTH  REPORT. 

From  January  1877  to  January  1878. 
NK.mher  of  Sittings. 


Rue  de  Rivoli,     . 

270 

Grenelle,     . 

150 

Belleville,    . 

400 

Gare  d'lvry, 

192 

Montmartre, 

550 

Bercy, 

161 

Faubourg  St.  Antoine 

372 

Boulevard  Voltaire, 

140 

Rue  des  Dames,  . 

387 

Rue  Chariot, 

200 

Les  Ternes, 

202 

Rue  La  Condamine, 

120 

La  Chapelle, 

185 

Montsouris, 

78 

Menilmontant,     . 

184 

Rue  de  Meaux,    . 

80 

Rue  Monge, 

150 

Puteaux, 

150 

Rue  d'Allemagne, 

310 

Boulogne-sur-Seine, 

104 

Passy, 

149 

Vaugirard,  . 

162 

Total, 

4,694 

Appendix.  333 


French  Meetings  for  Adults,  Jan.  1  to  Dec.  31,  1877,         .        2,438 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 325,653 

(Of  the  above,  367  meetings,  attended  by  74,849  persons, 
at  Rue  de  Rivoli  station.) 
Adult  Bible  Class  Meetings  (six  weekly),   .         .         .         .  324 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 12,468 

French  Prayer  Meetings, 170 

Attendance  at  ditto, 10,493 

Aggregate  Adult  attendance  during  the  year,     .         .         .    348,614 

Sunday-school  Meetings, 731 

Attendance  at  ditto, 39,775 

Children's  Week-day  Services, 916 

Attendance  at  ditto,  ........      48,742 

Young  People's  Meetings  and  Juvenile  Bible  Classes,        .  542 

Attendance  at  ditto, 23,260 

Aggregate  attendance  of  the  Young  during  the  yeax',  .    111,777 

Total  of  French  Religious  Meetings  during  the  year,  .        5,121 

Total  attendance  at  ditto, 460,591 

Psalmody  Meetings, 329 

Attendance  at  ditto, 50,507 

Eight  Classes  for  Teaching  English  are  conducted  weekly. 
Ouvroirs  for  poor  Women  are  established  in  five  stations, 

and  three  others  are  lent  for  the  purpose. 
Girls'  Industrial  Schools  are  established  at  Les  Ternes  and 

at  the  Gare  d'lvry. 
Two  Rooms  are  lent  for  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tions. 

Domiciliary  Visits  paid,  above 2,700 

Scripture  Portions  distributed,    .;....      24,528 

Tracts,  &c.,  ditto, 70,492 

Bibles  and  Testaments  sold,  given,  and  circulated  (exclu- 
sive   of    those    lent    from   Libraries   and   Children's 

Rewards), 250 

Books  issued  from  French  Lending  Libraries   (including 

290  Bibles,  &c.), 3,000 

Weekly  English  Prayer  Meeting  of  Workers  at  Belleville  ; 

average  attendance, 20 


3  0  /{ 


Appendix. 


SEVENTH  EEPOHT. 

Ekom  Januaky  1878  to  January  1879, 
LIST  OF  STATIONS  IN  PAEIS. 


Sittings 

Salle  Evang^lique, 

Place  du  Trocadero,  Pass}'-, 

.      520 

Centre  de  Paris,  . 

37  Rue  de  Rivoli  (corner  of  the  Rue 

de  la  Tacherie),  . 

.     270 

Belleville,    . 

102  Rue  de  Belleville, 

.     400 

Montmartre, 

56  Boulevard  Ornano, 

.     550 

Faubourg  St.  Antoine, 

142  Rue  du  Faubourg, 

.     372 

BatignoUes, 

4  Rue  des  Dames, 

.     387 

Les  Ternes, 

53  Avenue  de  Wagram,     . 

.     202 

La  Chapelle 

29  Boulevard  de  la  Chapelle, 

.     204 

Menilmontant,     . 

90  Boulevard  de  Mt^nilmontant, 

.     184 

Quartier  Latin,    . 

72  Rue  Monge, 

.     190 

La  ViUette, 

90  Rue  d'Allemagne, 

.     310 

Popincourt, 

123  Boulevard  Voltaire,     . 

.     200 

Vaugirard,  . 

161  Boulevard  de  Vaugirard, 

.     162 

Grenelle,      . 

59  Rue  Letellier,        . 

.     180 

Gare  d'lvry, 

169  Boulevard  de  la  Gare, 

.     192 

Bercy, 

74  Boulevard  de  Bercy, 

.     101 

Quartier  du  Temple,    . 

77  Rue  Chariot, 

.     200 

BatignoUes, 

15  Rue  de  la  Condamine,  . 

.     120 

Montsouris, 

21  Rue  de  la  Tombe-Issoire, 

.       78 

La  Villette, 

93  Rue  de  Meaux,     . 

.       80 

Puteaux,      . 

5  Rue  Saulnier, 

.     150 

Boulogne-sur-Seine,     . 

70  Rue  d'Aguesseau, 

.       80 

Total  number  of  Sittings  in  Pai 

•is,     .  5192 

LIST  OF  STATIONS  IN  LYONS. 

La  Guillotifere,     . 

173  Grande  Rue  de  la  Guilloti^ 

re,     .     120 

Les  Brotteaux,    . 

65  Avenue  de  Noailles, 

.     165 

Vaise, 

2  Rue  de  la  Pyramide, 

.     135 

La  Croix  Rousse, 

4  Petite  Rue  de  Cuire,      . 

.     190 

Total  number  of  Sittings  in  Lyons,    .     610 


Appendix.  335 


SUMMAKY  OF  THE  YEAE'S  WOBK. 
Paris. 

French  Meetings  for  Adults,  Jan.  1  to  Dec.  31,  1878,        .        2,788 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 421,370 

German  Meetings  (15)  at  Salle  Evangelique,  attendance,  .  250 

(Of  the  above,  473  meetings,  attended  by  100,023  per- 
sons, at  the  Salle  Evangdlique,  and  365  meetings, 
attended  by  85,012  persons,  at  the  Rue  de  Rivoli 
station.) 

Adult  Bible  Classes, 294 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 13,374 

French  Prayer  Meetings, 151 

Attendance  at  ditto, 10,356 

Aggregate  Adult  attendance  during  the  year,     .         .         .    446,108 

Sunday-school  Meetings, 800 

Attendance  at  ditto, 41,708 

Children's  Week-day  Services, 945 

Attendance  at  ditto, 42,981 

Young  People's  Meetings  and  Juvenile  Bible  Classes,         .  469 

Attendance  at  ditto, 25,421 

Aggregate  attendance  of  the  Young  during  the  year,  .  110,110 
Total  of  Religious  Meetings  in  Paris  during  the  year,  .  5,471 
Total  attendance  at  Religious  Meetings  in  Paris  during  the 

year, 556,218 

Psalmody  Meetings, 250 

Attendance  at  ditto, 43,710 

Several  Classes  for  Teaching  English  are  conducted  weekly. 
Ouvroirs  for  Poor  Women  are  established  in  seven  of  the 

stations. 
Girls'  Industrial  Schools  are  established  at  Les  Temes  and 

Gare  d'lvry,  attended  by  an  average  of  160  per  week. 
Two  Rooms  are  lent  for  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tions. 

Domiciliary  Visits  paid,  above 2,200 

New  Testaments  earned  by  regular  attendance  at  Adult 

Meetings, 1,400 

Bibles  and  Testaments  sold,  given,  and  circulated  (exclusive 

of  those  lent  from  Libraries  and  Children's  Rewards),  100 


33^  Appe7idix. 

Books  issued  from  French  Lending  Libraries,  including  120 

Bibles,  &c., 2,781 

Scripture  Portions  distributed,    ......      26,203 

Tracts,  &c.,  distributed  (including  48,000  at  Salle  Evan- 
gelique,  and  600  in  various  languages  on  a  Continental 
Tour), 151,535 

Weekly  Prayer  Meeting  of  the  workers  of  the  Mission  held 
at  the  Mission  Office,  Belleville. 

Lyons. 

(Mission  commenced  17tk  November,  1878.) 

Meetings  held, 41 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto, 5,815 

Tracts,  Scripture  Portions,  &c.,  distributed,       .         .         .        4,838 


EREATA. 

Page  196,  line  18,  for  abomenables  read  abominables. 
Page  237,  line  10,  for  October  read  November. 


THE  END. 


LOKIMEE  AND  GILLIES,  PEINTERS,  ST.  ANDEEW  SQUAEE,  EDINBUEGH. 


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